Bethany (2017)


REVIEWER RATING: 
8/10

DIRECTOR:

CAST:


James Cullen Bressack is the prince of horror. Once again, he brings us a scary, frightening and haunting tale of family values.

After the passing of her mother, Claire and her husband Aaron (Estes and Ward) move into her childhood home where many evil memories reside.

From the moment Claire and Aaron begin their new lives in this house, creepy things start to happen…and all to Claire. Is this her imagination? Does anyone see what is physically and violently happening to her? From the chilling shower scene, to the threaded face (yes, THAT made me cringe!), it is clear that Claire is being haunted by someone from her past.

Flashbacks appear, as a young Claire recalls piano lessons to bouts of untidiness by her mother (a vicious Doherty who hasn’t shown this level of cruelty since playing Brenda Walsh!), and the abuse endured continuously throughout her upbringing.

Zack Ward is the compassionate husband Aaron, trying to get a grip on his wife’s sudden outbursts and resistance to having a child of their own. “Not in this house” she snaps. You see, Claire wasn’t the only child growing up in this malicious home. Her best friend was imaginary. An imaginary little girl named Bethany.

So, what happened to Bethany? Is she haunting this young couple? Is she bitter about Claire’s departure so many years earlier? Is she….real?

And let’s not forget the zany Tom Green! Who…well…is NOT very wacky at all in Bethany. In fact, as the therapist for Claire and Aaron, he seems to be the only person with his head on straight, showing us all he DOES have a range of character, playing the straight and narrow guy who doesn’t find any humor in this couples’ trauma.

If you like The Grudge, you’ll enjoy this.
If you hated The Grudge….I bet you’ll still enjoy this!

OVERALL: 
Bethany is a heartfelt piece of work from Bressack’s twisted yet creative mind. There are plenty of alarming moments that will jump-scare you out of your seat. This young director has mastered the art of terrifying you while the plot unfolds into a spine-tingling family secret which will freak you out. It’s simply grotesque…how far a self-absorbed mother will go to depict the ultimately perfect family. Too bad it’s not as uncommon as one might have thought.


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