Modern indie films are generally hit or miss, but we occasionally get a gem in the bunch, which is what I would consider The Pact-- a film that's based on the short with the same name from writer/director Nicholas McCarthy. The movie is proof that with the right talent, indie films can still overshadow bigger-budgeted mainstream horror pics.

The story focuses on a young woman who returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother. While staying the night she finds herself plagued with strange noises and an eerie sense of someone or something else there. It's not until the following night that the presence in the house makes itself known, as she's thrown around by an invisible entity after her cousin suddenly disappears. She somehow makes it out've the house with her niece safely in her arms. Naturally the authorities are stumped and she's forced to dig into her family's past and seek the aid from a local psychic in an attempt to discover a solution to her paranormal dilemma.

While a majority of films in the supernatural sub-genre are focused on the dull found footage aspect with failed unimaginative pop-up scares, The Pact succeeds by setting up an effective scene thanks to the lack of distracting music, with a constant dark foreboding atmosphere, and some distressing loud noises when the scene calls for it. The flick is also keeps at a solid pace and conveys a story that grows more interesting as further details and twists are revealed.

Though some may consider it a negative, I personally liked movie's ambiguity towards many of its scenes and bits of the storyline, forcing us viewers to think even after it ends. Nicholas McCarthy is definitely a director to keep an eye on, as the man is clearly capable of giving us a convincing supernatural pic on a minimal budget. All that being said, there are portions of the climax that I felt were a bit forced or hastily put together and couldn't match the effectiveness of the first half, but it's nothing that can't be overlooked as a bulk of the movie was well done.

The Pact is a surprisingly good addition to the supernatural sub-genre that proves with the right talent an indie film can still exceed bigger-budgeted mainstream efforts. If you're looking for a simple flick with an ominous atmosphere, lots of creepy scenes and some effective scares then give this a look.