VISIONS
US, 2015, 82 minutes, Colour.
Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs, Joanna Cassidy, Eva Longoria, Jim Parsons.
Directed by Kevin Greutert.
Visions is a brief horror and terror film. It has an interesting cast, featuring Isla Fisher who is usually in lighter roles. Veteran Joanna Cassidy appears as a wine taster, television star Eva Longoria and television star Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory, appear in supporting roles.
The films opens with an accident where Evie, Isla Fisher, is injured and a baby in the other car dies. She suffers guilt about the death even though the accident was not her fault. After a year, she and her husband, Anson Mount, have invested in a vineyard and are beginning to prosper when the pregnant Evie begins having nightmares, hallucinations, ghost coasts, seeing her gynaecologist, as well as a psychologist, relies on friends, especially the also-pregnant Sadie, Gillian Jacobs.
There is also an encounter with a wine expert, played by Joanna Cassidy, who has premonitions.
As things get worse, Evie becomes more terrified, tries to find out the history of the vineyard, the several interviews, Googles, and eventually comes to the conclusion that she has premonitions and that on a particular night there will be a threat – which comes to a head when Sadie, who is the mother of the child killed in the accident, and her husband attack Evie, her husband and gathered friends.
As they say, nothing particularly new, but effective enough in its subject and style for its brief running time.
1. The popularity of this kind of horro-terror film? Suspense, hauntings, violence?
2. The opening with the accident, the graphic scenes, hospital? The transition to the vineyard, the beauty of the countryside, the vines, the homes? The musical score?
3. The title, with reference to Evie’s experiences, waking up after nightmares, hearing sounds, sensing a cloaked presence, knocking on doors? The increase in the visions? Helena and her strange behaviour? Going off the medication and its effect? Evie consulting with the neighbours, information about the previous owners, Helena coming to visit and her death, Evie and her husband trying to cope with her moods? Her leaving, returning, knowing that she had premonitions, that this was a special night?
4. Evie and David, love for each other, the vineyard, their work, the investment? The opening, the guests, Hele and her strange behaviour at the bed? David and his work, the locals, Hispanic, the superstitions, the various dolls amongst the vines? David and his dealing with Evie and her pregnancy, her moods? His having the papers from the Spanish workers and Evie suspicious?
5. Evie, friends, Sadie, with the pregnant mothers? Bonding with Sadie, losing contact? The final revelation that Sadie was the mother of the child, her pretending to be pregnant, her husband with the gun, the shooting of the various friends including the Doctor, wounding
David? Sadie and her cruel intentions for Evie, Caesarean, the night, her husband reluctant? David shooting him, killing Sadie?
6. The doctor, friend, advice? Psychologists? Issues of medication or not?
7. The background to the vineyards, the background of the history of the estate, the original house, the women with premonitions, the spirit of dread?
8. And the new couple with the estate agent and his praising the house to his clients?
