The Final (2010)

Director:

Joey Stewart

Writer:

Jason Kabolati

             Have you ever gone balistic because someone treated you wrong for no apparent reason and you would gladly skin him alive so that he would apologize and have regrets about it? In reality you never had the guts to do anything about it and not even wanted to do it for real but kept dreaming about it? (we feel many of you are noding your heads, oh, we almost feel like Oprah and Dr. Phil :) )
Well, these kids certainly had.

             Plot story : The story is about bullied high school kids that have had enough. They devise a sinister plan to get their revenge on the ones who did them wrong. 

             We must admit we weren't expecting a lot from this movie since we're not thrilled that much about After Dark Horrorfest movies. In fact, the most of them did not impress us at all. This one is a far cry from that scenario. It delivers much more than expected, especially if you start off with low or no expectations. The movie grabs your attention from the very beginning which is supported by the fact that there is nothing worse than a scared face. We dare to say that the first and the last scene were the most interesting ones. Although this is a low- budget movie and is limited by it in its possibilities, we didn't feel it. Those funds were obviously used rationally (unlike the funds used by our goverment). The thing that is not so good is the costume design. Halloween costumes were not interesting at all and those that were supposed to be scary did not succeed in its purpose (they all looked like a cast from a porno movie audition). That could have been done much much better. Acting also isn't worth of applauding and maybe Marc Donato and Lindsay Seidel stood out the most. Photography, camera work and the direction were all well done masking the movie's (in)abilities. Ruminant premise of the movie and the message that wants to be given is very commendable since this is everyday in this world.

             Anyone of us can relate to some of these characters but if we choose the violence as the answer to violence, what makes us different?! We are just stepping into a dangerous magic circle with power of negative and destroying act. Young kids all over the world do not understand that being different is better than being part of the mass (except in China :) ) and the parents are the most responsible for that because they don't talk enough with their kids which can also be seen in this movie.
The intention of this movie is good trying to show us that we can't beat someone not our size and to respect diversity which is, let's face it, impossible especially in the world of teenagers who can be really cruel. The thing that worries us is that bullied teenagers watching this movie might come to an idea of realizing something like this. The Final is not the type of horror movie which you watch on the edge of your seat and there is not much blood or torture. Torturing scenes are not disturbing and are far from originality but they are kind of playing with your mind so we would rather call it a psychological thriller than a horror.

               The confusing thing about this movie is that you can't choose the side. As much as you sympathize with the bullied kids and wish for a revenge at the beginning of the movie, that much they become very unlikeable at the end of the movie because the students have become the masters.
Also, writer's insecurity is delivered to the screen because there is lack of a concrete idea and just as it is about to reach the top it plummets down suddenly. In other words, it's missing the dot on the i to make the story complete.

              Despite of all of the defects, there is still the feeling that remains. This one will stick with you and and will make you think about it and will leave you wondering if you are treating other people properly yourself.
This movie is ''what you see is what you get''. There is nothing less or more than the plot story says.
Do we need another movie of pissed off victims of bullying after so many of greatly done ones (Ben X, Bully, Elephant....)? Probably no, but we're glad that this one exists because it entertained us and it doesn't leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Our score:
Liz: 7/10
Kyle: 6.5/10