Paperhouse

I appreciated the dark elements but the lead character isn't particularly likable. As I figured out what they wanted to do with the ending it began to make wild turns that completely biffed the desired emotional arc. She can draw anything in the world that she desires and it will be in her dream world and she doesn't draw the New Kids on the Block? What kind of eighties movie is this?

While this hinges on potentially life-threatening nightmares, the pic is situated a safe distance from Elm Street. Rock-video vet Rose forgoes gore and standard haunted-house hallucinations in favor of a Val Lewton-like approach to his semi-supernatural story line. The result is a largely successful mix of mystery, poignancy, and dread.

Dark and moody family film, compelling because it is a fair way left field.

The only films I can compare to are fantasies like: Neverending Story, Indian in the Cupboard and Pagemaster. Good British film.

not a film that benefits from being thought about too hard, and headly's performance is just baffling (not helped by the nutty post-production decision to have her dub herself), but this is beautiful in the main: a fraught, eruptive fantasy born of illness and abandonment which doesn't skimp on the nasty stuff, and feels alive with wonder and danger in a way the world only can when you're young. subsequent research into the fates of burke and especially spiers lends it an extra tinge of pathos.

Unusual tween psych-horror, literally a fever dream -with a Gaiman feel. Strange mix of high and low quality. Cool shimmery synth soundtrack and grumbly soundscape with irksome dubbing (guess the mum couldn't do british). Striking visuals mixed with some editing and continuity problems. The lead struggles but it's wonderfully atmospheric, tense and dark at times. Glad I saw it but doubt I'll be back.

Not as good as everybody wants it to be.

"Elm Street done right" would be an oversimplification, but it's pretty close. Solid horror film that could use a bigger audience

Nothing fancy. But an interesting children's movie with a few mellow scares, an OK plot, nice imagery and strong, impressive symbolism. Does get a bit silly here and there, but those bits are good for a laugh atleast.

A breath of fresh air from the eighties. It had me hooked.

some good visuals but the child actor is horrible and its not scary at all

I did not see this one coming. Somewhere after 45 min, I had to (HAD TO!!!) stop the film and was pretty much sure I won't finish it. This film made me jump out of my chair, throw away my headphones and actually scream (all in 0,004 sec). Just like in Wes Craven's case, this had to origin in someone's nightmare. Craven did it very inteligently, but Rose did it more effectively. In the end it's not quite a horror, but more like a psychological drama with fantasy elements. Very underrated movie.

A failed fantasy movie that is light on the fantasy and was written with a tremendous amount of neglect. People say it's a horror movie, yet it is without anything even remotely scary. This one would be watchable if it weren't for eye gouging-ly bad child acting, thanks to Charlotte Burke. Check her IMDB page to see how that career turned out.

A very good, scary movie with some jaw dropping scenes and a really good, original, interesting, engaging story. More people need to see it.