Fans of the television show Impractical Jokers might recognize the name James Murray, as he is one of the stars of the show. He is also an avid horror fan who has written novels and scripts for films. DON’T MOVE happens to be one of those films.
So, what is the film about? Well, if you have a fear of spiders or jump scares, this movie probably isn’t for you. But if you love those things, then read on.
Don’t Move
- Director: Maclain Nelson
- Starring: Lyndsy Fonseca, Russ, Tom Cavanagh, Hunter King, Joseph Lee Anderson, Rob Riggle, Brian Quinn, Matt Biedel
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
The story starts off with Megan Forrester (Lyndsy Fonseca) at a carnival with her husband and son. The father and son decide to indulge in a little fun by going through the haunted house ride, where they are secured in a cart and sent through the spookiness. Things quickly get very Final Destination on them when the ride catches fire and they can’t escape.
Megan sees what is happening and jumps into action, desperately trying to save them. Unfortunately, it’s too late, and she is pulled away by onlookers as her family succumbs to the fire.
It’s a pretty bleak beginning to the film, and it immediately sets the tone of tension for the rest of the movie.
Months later, Megan is invited on her church’s annual retreat, which she agrees to go on begrudgingly. What begins as a simple annual church camping trip quickly descends into a nightmare.
After venturing into an isolated section of the Ozark wilderness, members of the group begin disappearing one by one. As fear and paranoia spread throughout the group, suspicion falls on Ricky (Russell “Russ” Vitale), the group’s troubled outsider whose behavior makes him the obvious suspect.
But Ricky isn’t the real monster.
Hidden deep within the forest is a massive prehistoric arachnid that has survived for centuries. Nesting within a sprawling labyrinth of webs, the creature hunts in complete darkness by sensing the slightest vibration. Every footstep, every movement, and every attempt to escape brings its deadly attention.
DON’T MOVE isn’t going to win any awards, but what it does better than most horror films recently is create a good rapport between the characters and the audience. There is an emotional investment in seeing these characters, and when one of them gets taken by the giant spider, it actually gives you an emotional response. This is something the cast and director Maclain Nelson knock out of the park.
Tom Cavanagh (of the television series Ed fame) and Rob Riggle are over the top and just having fun with their characters. There is some comic relief with them throughout the film, which helps break up the tension without completely taking you out of the horror.
The two standouts of the cast are definitely Lyndsy Fonseca, who plays Megan Forrester, and Russell Vitale. Fonseca takes Megan through many emotional valleys and ups and downs, but she remains strong when it counts. Vitale, meanwhile, plays the outsider role to perfection. Ricky isn’t overly abrasive, and because of that, he remains quite likeable even when the circumstances make him look suspicious.
There are a few issues with the spider CGI throughout the film, which adds to the ’50s creature-feature feel of the movie. When the CGI is traded in for practical effects, however, the film really shines. If the practical effects had been used throughout the whole film, it would have given the movie a much more horrifying tone.
The story really helps elevate everything about the film. There are some interesting bits throughout that actually feel like things we haven’t seen before in these giant-monster movies. But is that enough to make viewers invest 90 minutes of their lives in DON’T MOVE? That’s something each person will have to decide for themselves.
DON’T MOVE is fun, especially if you lower your expectations going into it. It’s worth checking out — at least it was for me — especially during October.
The story and characters are where the film shines. Good direction and practical effects are essential to bringing the creepy crawler to life. When the film shifts over to CGI, it feels a little goofy and strangely toned for what is supposed to be a scary movie.
Personally, I’ve seen thousands of horror films, and I had a great time watching this one. It’s not perfect, but it does keep you entertained, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a creature feature.
DON’T MOVE, debuting on Digital October 13 from your friends at Well Go USA
