Cinematic Releases: Chernobyl Diaries

First off, I was rather hesitant to see a movie made by the man that brought us Paranormal Activity. I have never been a fan of that franchise and was rather worried that we'd be served up another steaming heap of "found footage" excrement. Secondly, my love for horror has dwindled with each passing fad in the genre. Lately we've been witness to torture porn, remakes, and the handheld shaky cam method of low budget horror. With Chernobyl Diaries, I was exceedingly surprised to finally see a horror movie that delivered everything that defines the struggling genre.

We're given a movie that is based in a realistic setting that was the scene of an actual horrific accident. Then, we're treated to scenes of actual intensity that never truly show the many evil things that may linger in the dark. Last but not least is a basic story that can be enjoyed by any fan of horror. It's not some convoluted, thinking man's horror film. It's a gritty, basic type of horror that reminded me of Aja's Hills Have Eyes remake.

Chernobyl Diaries is not a perfect horror film. But, it's a definite step in the right direction. After the absolute disappointment of Silent House, I was worried that this may be another stumbling block for horror fans. It's not. Other than two awful male leads that lack any and all talent, I found the movie to be quite entertaining.