Customer Reviews

For Sale by Owner

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This movie boasts an excellent veteran cast (Tom Skerritt, Rachel Nichols, Kris Kristofferson) and likewise it benefits from good cinematography. It is the work of professionals, and it has a good story and a dark setting.

Will Custis has an obsession with restoring old homes, and he stumbles upon one with ancient ties to the lost colony. Upon beginning his renovations of the home, however, things begin to go awry, and he becomes unhinged, having visions and slipping in and out of reality. For anyone who likes haunted house movies or ancient ghost stories from centuries past will eat this up. The gorgeous rural setting and the fine performances make it worthwhile for any fan of this genre in general, although if you are expecting a high body count and lots of gore, this is not your film. Kristofferson is such an old pro, it's a shame he's only in a few scenes, but he steals the scenes he is in. Rachel Nichols is excellent in her role as Will's concerned, supportive wife.

There are a few scares, not many however, as the film rests on the strength of the story and the performances. It's not going to make anyone yell at the screen too much. There is the typical twist at the end, which I didn't see coming, but I knew there would be some kind of twist as there usually is with films of this nature. I won't give away any spoilers, other than to say that this film will keep your attention as it is certainly worth the price of a rental on a dark, cold rainy night.

FOR SALE BY OWNER is a strange, somewhat convoluted ghost story. Using the unsolved infamous Lost Colony of Roanoke in the late 1500's, writer/star Scott Cooper weaves a psychological tale of paranoid SCHIZOPHRENIA. Cooper utilizes gloomy settings, often incoherent passages and a totally ineffective conclusion. Cooper himself is totally wrong in the leading role. He has little emotional range, stiff and unconvincing. More talented actors are wasted in cardboard caricatures: Tom Skerritt as the credit-stealing father; Kris Kristofferson as the enigmatic homeowner; Rachel Nichols as the tolerant wife; Scott Wilson as the country doctor; Tom Bower as the disgruntled sheriff; Joanna Cassidy as the registry clerk, and an unrecognizable Skeet Ulrich as the redneck mechanic. And what happened to the whistling realtor?
I did find myself involved in the movie, which is mild in terror/gore which is often refreshing. But it's not scary and the payoff is disappointing. Rent it, but don't buy.

I thought Yellow Brick Road was the worst movie I've seen this year, well, this one at least ties it.

Good people in this movie. The area is lovely. The movie is good, but when it ended I felt almost cheated. It just ended!!