Who doesn’t love a good mystery? For me, I love trying to figure out what is going on before the end of a film. Who did it and why? I think that’s one reason Scream is so iconic. We had to keep guessing who the killer was, and then at the end, it was like, “SURPRISE, SYDNEY!”
Do they even make mysteries like that anymore? I recently watched the remake of Francis Ford Coppola’s feature film debut, Dementia 13, and it definitely was one that kept me on my toes.
Dementia 13 was co-written by Dan DeFilippo (The Invaders, Chilling Visions: 5 States of Fear) and Justin Smith (SiREN, The Boy) and was directed by Richard LeMay (Blood Bound, Naked As We Come). The film stars Channing Pickett (Redheads Anonymous), Marianne Noscheze (Horror Time), Christian Ryan (Celebrity Ghost Stories, Casters), Julia Campanelli (116) and Ana Isabelle (The Eyes, Lost Cat Corona).
A vengeful ghost, a mysterious killer, and a family where everyone has a secret converge in one night of terror in this remake of Francis Ford Coppola’s first feature film.
Having now seen both the original and remake, I can easily say that I enjoy both. The first one is a classic but definitely a slow burn. The remake takes the story on a slightly different journey, but I think fans of the original will enjoy some of the new twists. It’s packed full of twists and turns, which is always fun.
Some of the performances were a bit mediocre, but I really enjoyed Channing Pickett’s character, Rose. She stole the spotlight in every scene. I thoroughly enjoyed her character development and the mystery surrounding her. Julia Campanelli, who plays the mother, is stunning as well. She has a strong presence about her, even when she’s not speaking.
I won’t say that this film is terrifying by any means, but there is one scene in particular that really creeped me out. There’s an incredibly creepy doll that gave me the heebie jeebies. She gives all scary dolls a run for their money. Let’s just say, I would never have something like that in my house. Ever.
Overall, Dementia 13 was a fun story with twists and turns every step of the way. If you love the original, you should definitely check this one out as well. However, you may enjoy the remake even more if you go into without any expectations. The film will be in theaters on October 6th and VOD and Digital HD on October 10th. Let us know if you plan on watching it!