Chernobyl Diaries Review

                        As with Oren Peli's previous film Paranormal Activity-Chernobyl Diaries is advertised as a horror film but plays out more like a thriller. That is actually what I like about Peli's films...they don't have to be particularly scary in order to be good and while this does not quite live up to the level of Paranormal Activity..it's effectively thrilling and very fun.

                       The film starts with four friends...Paul (Jonathan Sadowski), Chris (Jesse McCartney), Natalie (Olivia Dudley) and Amanda (Devin Kelley). Paul decides to go to a seedy tour guide named Uri (Dimitri Diatchenko) and eventually convinces the rest of the gang to visit Chernobyl. They then proceed to get into a series of things that go bump in the night as well as monsters, along with two other tourists (Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Nathan Phillips). The film builds up nicely as the audience does not know what's going to happen next.

                      However, while the build up is nice..that's also what makes the movie bland. The film does not follow one single horror cliche. There's no shaky cam, no jump scares, ETC. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. While it makes the film original...it also makes it a bit more boring than the average horror film. There are many effectively thrilling scenes but they're watered down by the slow moments and the stupid ending. Yes, the ending..while being the only really scary part of the film is pretty dumb. I could not help but walk out of the theater and think "that's all the filmmakers could come up with for the ending?"

                       Still...Chernobyl Diaries is a very fun time at the movies. I am going to go ahead and recommend Chernobyl Diaries assuming my readers are going in with low expectations.  

(3 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for violence, some bloody images, and pervasive language)