Don't Look Up

The filmmakers of the Japanese horror remake Don't Look Up should've realized that the once popular foreign genre from the late 90's was dead and buried. This direct-to-DVD release, featuring Henry Thomas from E.T., of all people, is no more exciting that an episode of the Hardy Boys. Even its 80 minute length is too long.

Strange things start to happen when a film crew descends upon Transylvania to shoot a horror film based on a real event from 80 years ago. Ghostly apparitions appear on the film's dailies. And actors and crew members get into freak accidents or die bizarre deaths. Thomas, who plays the film's producer, demands that the production keep going.

It's discovered that a portal to the past has been opened, and the dead are haunting the film. Reshad Strik, playing the film's director, tries to keep a straight face through all of the inane events, including the disgusting birth of an evil spirit. There are also more scenes of deadly flies buzzing around (with cheesy CGI effects no less) than the Amityville Horror. And don't blink or you'll miss a brief cameo by horror film director Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel).

What could've been a schlocky B-movie ends up a pointless bore. Even the film's title makes no sense, as it's never explained why one shouldn't look up. Don't Look Up uses the tried-and-true approach with the special features on the DVD, as E1 Entertainment gives us a commentary and a behind-the-scenes look at the film.