The Hallow

This ecologically themed horror movie scores points for atmosphere and imagination, though it isn't particularly scary. The characters are little more than ciphers, so I wasn't inclined to root for them when they got into trouble.

In a departure from the sexually active teens of most slasher movies, "The Hallow" plays on more grown-up fears: keeping your family safe and steering clear of a vengeful Mother Nature.

This backwoods monster movie boasts compelling performances, eye-catching creatures and an effective blend of practical and digital effects.

Amid all the horror and the black ooze, there emerges a deeply touching story about the power of love.

Pretty quickly, you'll be suffering from fiend fatigue.

High on atmosphere and chills, but only passable when it comes to anything beyond surface-deep emotional content. It's almost there, but just shy of greatness.

By the time The Hallow builds to its breathtakingly personal climax, it's hard not to be impressed by what Hardy has accomplished.

While it won't leave you the unwelcome gift of nightmares, The Hallow is an admirable first-time out for director Corin Hardy. You can see where every cent was spent, but that kind of adds to the fun.

A sophisticated and scary horror picture with way above-average effects.

This gloomy little film has neither the imagination nor the effects to carry off its story.

The Hallow promises to be an Irish mythological horror, replete with wee folk and banshees. Unhappily, it merely namechecks these entities and delivers nothing of the sort.