Temple
2017
Action / Adventure / Drama / Horror
Temple
2017
Action / Adventure / Drama / Horror
Plot summary
Three American tourists follow a mysterious map deep into the jungles of Japan searching for an ancient temple. When spirits entrap them, their adventure quickly becomes a horrific nightmare.
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Despite having said only a week ago that
Temple of nightmares
Saw 'Temple', being fond of adventure/horror regardless of budget (even if not my favourite genre) and being intrigued somewhat by the idea. Being behind on my film watching and reviewing, with a long to watch and review list that keeps getting longer, it took me a while to get round to reviewing it.
Unfortunately, despite not reading any reviews purposefully before watching, am going to have to agree with all the reviewers who hated 'Temple'. There is very little to like here, next to no redeeming qualities at all, and there is not much to add to what has already been said so well. Never judge a film without seeing the whole thing and wanted to give 'Temple', so gave it a fair chance.
'Temple' has only some quite stylish photography and beautiful scenery going for it, hence why it's not gotten the lowest possible score from me.
However, 'Temple's' biggest problem is the story, or shall we say lack of it. It is paper thin, basically a short film stretched out to the point of interminability. One can mistake it understandably for not having a plot at all, or at least a discernible one. It takes forever to get going, and everything in the first half is uninteresting and too often adds nothing or serves no point. Second half is not much better, the un-scary and thoroughly predictable scares/horror elements are further undone by excessively loud and obvious sound effects and too dark lighting.
It is only in the last 10-15 minutes where anything resembling a story appears. Unfortunately 'Temple' completely fails to execute even that right. The whole film is horrendously paced, with much of it being endlessly dull, the ending has the opposite problem of being incredibly rushed. It's also incredibly chaotic and confused, too many things left hanging in the air or vague.
Direction is going through the motions like, while the script is childish, leaden and awkward. The characters are basically unsubtle and not particularly tasteful stereotypes and 'Temple' goes well overboard on the purposeful unlikeability that it is impossible to root for them. The acting is poor, with Natalia Warner being atrocious.
Overall, really bad, compensated solely by the photography and the scenery with the story destroying any hopes of the film being halfway decent. 2/10 Bethany Cox




