source: Entity

Attempting to uncover a grisly mystery, a documentary team searching for the cause of a mass grave in Russia finds the connection to an abandoned psychiatric institute and tries to get away before the inhabitants point out the same fate. This is a really enjoyable and quite chilling ghost story that has a lot of good points about it. The setting in the abandoned factory gives off an incredibly tense and eerie feeling which works rather well as a setting for such films by generally looking exactly like the type of place where bad things can happen quite easily and certainly looks like the kind of place that would be wholly unnerving when encountered in real life as the cold, lifeless cement and steel structures, endless dimly-or-barely lit corridors and deathly silence that surrounds the entire location is endlessly terrifying before the ghostly actions even start. those are certainly enjoyable enough in their own right as they continually come at such intervals that it never feels like it's dragging on or even all that boring as it stays on course sure enough through the story. Several of these are pretty terrifying as well, with standout encounters in the shock-treatment chamber and into the sleeping chambers which are the biggest ones here but there's enough encounters and interactions so that it's not all that slow-going at all and even feels quite exciting at times. However, it does have a couple of big flaws in that it really doesn't do a lot to help get the most out of it's scares by generally making everything so hard and nearly impossible to see. From shifting camera angles to rapid quick-cut editing and the utterly irritating feature of shooting through a video camera which in-effect resembles the found-footage type of films, there's an endless array about it that really serves to irritate and aggravate about this one which is certainly not the desired effect here when it simply cannot make what goes on that discernible. Without any real sort of violence in here, there's very little in that department to lure anyone in and the film's convoluted storyline in the second half hardly makes any sense at all by throwing in several countless plot-twists that aren't that clever. These drag the film down but it's still good enough when it counts. Rated R: Graphic Language and Violence.

I've seem this movie at least 5 times now. I'm not sure what draws me to it. It's part found footage, part traditional film, part political statement, part supernatural thriller. There are reenactments of scenes that are claimed to be real (the scene where the patient in floating over his bed). While all together not that original it's also very intriguing. Definitely something I would recommend

Entity is a British horror movie written and directed by Steve Stone. It's a tight, claustrophobic film that relies on good acting, special effects that are genuinely disturbing and actually help reveal the story, and an ultra-creepy location. The plot is slim and characterisation is kept to a minimum as a small TV crew, consisting of Kate Hansen, played by Charlotte Riley, Matt, played by Rupert Hill and David, played by Oliver Jackson, with guest psychic Ruth Peacock, played by Dervla Kirwan, travel to a remote spot in Siberia in search of a paranormal story promised them by their host, Yuri, Branko Tomovic. They soon find a deserted industrial site, and as they explore the evil within, it begins to explore them. There can only be one winner. In a downbeat ending the ghost-hunters become ghosts and the ghosts become real in a way we've seen before in plenty of horror films yet if there's nothing startlingly original in Entity there is better than average-horror-film acting, especially from Dervla Kirwan and Charlotte Riley, a really eerie atmosphere throughout, and the disturbing reassurance that there's plenty of life left in the world of ghosts.

Nicely done, atmospheric as all get out, and scary instead of gory which was a pleasant change. Acting was pretty top notch with a fairly small cast. Would recommend and watch again. Just happened upon this one via Hulu and glad I bookmarked it to watch later. For a first time directorial effort I think this stands out as one the better I have seen and I have been to my share of film festivals. Really look forward to seeing future endeavors by all involved. Don't let the found footage tags scare you off it really is not over used and what is has been incorporated well into the storyline, not just used as a gimmick. Not sure why this had to have "Russian" setting as it really did not add anything to the story and just seemed to be the only misstep.

Above Average horror movie with a creepy setting and a clever idea behind it!

In 1998, thirty four unidentified bodies were found in shallow graves in a remote Siberian forest. After subsequent investigations, no official explanation by the Russian authorities was ever offered about the circumstances of the deaths. The movie is presented as a "faux documentary", but it is not strictly found footage and never pretends to be. In fact, it becomes less so as it continues, much to the audience's relief (as most horror fans by now seem to be sick of the whole thing). There is some nice coloration, good suspense, and a genuinely eerie nature to this story. And more horror films really ought to be set in Siberia (even if this was actually filmed in North Yorkshire). Reviews are mixed, as they should be. As much as the film may be "predictable" or "late to the POV party", it does have something about it (production value?) that helps it stand out, maybe just a little.

I don't mind the "lost camera footage" or movies where they are filming as they go, but this one wasn't one of the better ones. The first almost half of the movie was pretty good, slow moving to build suspense and get to know the characters some. Good outside shots, creepy. Then when they get inside and things start happening, that's when it starts to go down hill. The footage they are filming, and thus we are seeing their experiences thru, is really fuzzy, shaky, and almost unwatchable. You don't really see anything, just a bunch of screaming and falling down. The shots of the evil spirit, or whatever you want to call it, are horrible and the special effects on it are ridiculous, wouldn't scare a small child. The story is the same as every other movie where they go into an old abandoned sanitarium/warehouse/prison. Things start to happen, someone goes missing, screams coming from somewhere within the building, they can't find their way out etc. The ending was a little different, but not enough to bother recommending this to anyone. Too bad because I thought it could have been better. The acting was good, the location was creepy, just the same old same old with the story.

This is a gripping first feature from UK director Steve Stone. I generally like independent UK films, and I am pleased to say I was not disappointed. The film has excellent pacing and the cast make the most of the eerie derelict Yorkshire locations that double very effectively for an abandoned Cold War soviet installation. I don't know why some reviewers refer to this as a "found footage" movie because it simply is not that. There are some scenes from the viewpoint of the TV cameraman but that does not make it a found footage movie. An original story with strong performances from all the principal cast. Well worth watching.

From the start, this films promises much. The initial sequence of 'found footage' is very creepy - unfortunately you will discover it's by far the creepiest thing in the film. The initial post-credits opening is also promising - great camera work, well judged soundtrack and characters talking like real people. Unfortunately nothing convincing develops from this and the whole documentary crew theme/psychic woman seems half hearted and a little forced. There ARE some potentially creepy locations used, but despite this, this film commits the cardinal sin - it's just not at all scary. A far superior treatment of a similar theme is Grave Encounters. It's not a bad film at all, it just seemed so close to having much greater potential, based on the great start and good ending twist. Just the middle 70 minutes, the bulk of the film were missing something...