Apartment 143 Movie Review

Posted by Charmaine Blake on Jun 11th, 2012 in Horror | 0 comments

Apartment 143 Movie Review

Apartment 143 directed by Carles Torrens made its way to the big screen last June 1st 2012. A horror film set on a newly occupied apartment that is being investigated by a group of parapsychologists. Apartment 143 stars Kai Lennox, Rick Gonzalez, Gia Mantegna and Michael O’Keefe. So how did this found footage horror film do? Let’s take a look at a movie review provided to us Chris Pandolfi:

“The Verdict On Apartment 143 By Carles Torrens

Apartment 143 is essentially a cross between Paranormal Activity and, assuming I’m interpreting it correctly, An American Haunting. On the one hand, it’s a standard, technically competent found-footage mockumentary that delivers plenty of tension and some genuinely good scares. On the other hand, its plot is needlessly confusing and ultimately provides a baffling resolution that raises more questions than it answers. When it comes to movies like this, I think certain filmmakers are mired in the misguided belief that there should be both an explanation and a twist, as there would be in a conventionally shot supernatural thriller. I’ve repeatedly asserted my position on the original Paranormal Activity, namely that it worked so well was because Oren Peli kept audiences in the dark, literally and figuratively. It was about mood and atmosphere, not plot.
It begins decently enough. A handheld camera introduces us to three paranormal researchers as they drive in their van. There are the two techs, Paul (Rick Gonzales) and Ellen (Fiona Glascott), and a psychologist named Dr. Helzer (Michael O’Keefe). Their destination is an apartment building somewhere in Los Angeles. They arrive at the unit of Alan White (Kai Lennox), who needs their help in explaining the odd occurrences that have been happening. The scientists set up a series of surveillance cameras around the apartment, along with a series of still cameras, motion detectors, and various pieces of computer equipment. They also get to know Alan’s children. There’s four-year-old Benny (Damian Roman), who’s outgoing and bright. Then there’s his teenage daughter, Caitlin (Gia Mantegna), who’s disrespectful and combative towards her father.

According to Alan, the trouble started not long after a car accident killed his wife. This was in the family’s old house. When they moved, the trouble moved right along with them. Indeed, the scientists bear witness to apparent paranormal activity almost as soon as they arrive. Phones ring, yet no one is at the other end of the line. Doors open and close on their own. Heavy footsteps seem to be emanating from the floor above them, although Alan claims that very few tenants populate this building. Perhaps the sound is coming from pipes, or rats, or metal fatigue. Sudden gusts of air fill the living room. The central ceiling light sways ominously. Later on, when they examine a night’s worth of still frames, they look at one in Caitlin’s room and see the unmistakable shape of a human figure cloaked in shadow.

Is it possible that the ghost of Alan’s wife is haunting the apartment? Benny seems to think so, but then again, Benny is the stereotype of the precocious and intuitive child who, even with his limited vocabulary, seems to have a better grasp of the situation than the adults do. Caitlin doesn’t seem to care one way or the other about the prospect of a haunting.”

The rest of the review can be seen at Yahoo Voices

Check out the article on “Chernobyl Diaries” right in this blog

Charmaine Blake loves movies, musical theater listening to music and taking pictures of anything that she finds interesting. She is a voracious reader and writer, and enjoys her time writing for New Movie Launches. Charmaine loves spending time with her pets and currently has a Siberian Husky, a toy poodle and a cat.