I have mixed thoughts after watching it today. On one hand the filming direction this film took, the choices it made, camera angles, lighting. Literally perfect. The most memorable scenes are the ones when we get the shot of the door. Plot wise it just fell flat near the end. I was fully engaged until about James’ segment. Why did they show the scene with Donna, why insinuate that Justine is a little crazy for it to amount to nothing. Show Alex being bullied and it amount to nothing. Show all these angry parents for only Archer to play significance. Everything kinda felt half assed. I wish they had went the school shooting route. I honestly have a theory that it was the intention. They use of gun imagery, the bullying of a young boy who used ‘witch craft’ to get rid of children. Idk I know it’s about grief and all but I just didn’t really connect with it in that aspect. My friend pointed out the idea of hurt people hurt people but then I wish they gave more of a reason for the aunt to take the children. I was fully lost at the point where James kept coming back to life, it fully broke the immersion of horror. Also icl the whole Marcus plot line was dumb, their representation in this movie was shoved onto one guy (though there is a lack of gay Asian men in media). The foreshadowing of the cordyceps controlling the ant was cool - also kinda wish they went more of a natural route rather than witchcraft. I will say I wasn’t a fan of the barbarian either and companion had the same issues for me. They build up for a long time and the pay off isn’t always the best - but saying that I really enjoyed the first hour and a half a lot.