Winchester - Movie Review (2.5/5 Stars)

By Hamza Shafique (Instagram / Facebook)

The basic criteria to review a horror movie is, how scary the overall experience is and from that perspective Spierig Brothers’ Winchester has won. It has some well-placed scares (mostly jump scares) and the loud shrieks of ladies in the hall verified also that they work perfectly.

Screenplay is well paced and balanced. Placement of scares and the twists is appropriate. In fact, the main twist about the antagonist got me by surprise and was revealed with quality horror intact. Story line on the other hand is very weird, the characterization/drama element of the film is very weak and climax lacked required closing intensity of a horror flick. This holds, the otherwise balanced screenplay back a little bit.
Direction is good and production quality is within acceptable range. Spierig Brothers have managed to keep the experience with in serious horror category which is an achievement considering the flaws in screenplay.

Helen Mirren’s performance is the only reason that makes the audience connect to the role of Sarah Winchester otherwise her weak and cliched characterization has all the potential to become clumsy and laughable if not performed well. All the other actors have done well and this is one of the strongest aspect of the film.

With lousy direction and performance such a screenplay can easily get into loud or unintentionally comic zone but that’s clearly not the case here. I was genuinely scared in the first act and was shocked/surprised couple of times in the second, I only wish there was more intense and well written closing sequence, I go with 2.5 stars.

Fun Fact: Movie is based on true life events of Sarah Winchester pictured above

I would like to thank Novo Cinemas for inviting me to the advance screening of the film and making this review possible. I saw it in IMAX and recommend you do the same if you are going for it, as experience intensifies with IMAX.