Welcome back once again to Direct to DVD Dissection. This time, it’s a trip to supernatural horror and romance, oddly enough, with Roscommon Pictures presenting “The Undying”.
Released December 15th, 2011
The Story:
A doctor becomes interested in an old story about a Civil War soldier who’s ghost is said to inhabit the house she is staying it. When a patient she is watching is classified as brain dead and life support systems are removed, she decides to take the body home and give it to the ghost of the soldier to inhabit. While the two share a relationship, a murder occurs that ties the body of the patient to it. This leads into a question over the spirit being responsible, and if he is who he says he is.
The Cast:
Robin Weigert plays Barbara, the doctor who shares a connection with the ghost. Probably best known for her role as Calamity Jane on the HBO series Deadwood. Considering the basis of the story, it’s a good thing she has experience with that.
Anthony Carrigan plays the patient, Jason, and also is Elijah once Barbara gives him the body. He’s best known for his work on the Christian Salter series “The Forgotten” as Tyler Davies, also as Cory Smith.
Jay O. Sanders plays Dr. Russell Lassiter, the head doctor and the one in charge of Jason in the hospital, with added does of sleeze. Jay has had a lot of experience in various roles, recently playing the father of Carol Ferris in the Green Lantern movie.
Wes Studi plays Lt. Frank Wescoe, a detective investing a murder with possible ties to Barbara and her ghost lover. Most known for being Magua in the movie adaptation of “The Last of the Mohicans” and appearance in “Avatar”, while others might know him as Sagat in “Street Fighter: The Movie”.
The Dissection:
The premise of it seems a bit different from other, more straight, horror movies. Yes, there have been other movies about a bond between a ghost and a person before, but the movie seems to deal with it in a different way.
Barbara (Robin Weigert) having a close encounter with Elijah in the shower.
Barbara is a strange character in parts. Barbara bonds with the ghost of Elijah because of a story given by her landlord over a lost love. Having lost her husband due to someone running him over, the audience is given a reason for why they bond. However, there really isn’t enough set up for her to suddenly cause her actions in the movie, like stealing the body of the patient and forging his files to show him transferred out to avoid issues. It really removes any kind of sympathy for her, until the movie tries to push the audience to see her with any.
Most of the side characters seem to have these blatant flaws that are used to show the main character better, even with her questionable actions on the table. It resembles Stephen King’s “Christine” movie in having these a lot of the characters having these quirks, so the main character can lash out at them or the car could kill them and both would feel justified. The only one that doesn’t fit this, same as in “Christine”, is the police officer.
Jason (Anthony Carrigan) the patient and ghost vessel, not in a good mood.
There is an interesting story here, though. It has this element of mystery in trying to make people guess if the person in the body is suppose to be the ghost or just the patient who is pulling a con job. It’s just known that there is a threat. It does change the story into some interesting turns. They also spend a little time with the whole story of the Civil War era Elijah getting used to modern technology and treatment. Too little time overall, really. Some more time with that aspect could have built a better character in Elijah’s introduction.
Acting wise, most of the performances here are good, though nothing that special. Wes Studi is the stand out of the group here. Carrigan, I should mention, looks awkward at times, with some of his faces and the attempt to do a southern accent for Elijah.
The background music is really poor here. It’s the biggest issue of this movie. The movie tries for an orchestral tune to it, but without the budget for it. The music sounds like it comes straight from an old video game system. It’s not 8-Bit, but it sounds very muddled, like it comes from a Casio system of the 90’s. Some of the music that plays at the party of the bar works well, though, as do a lot of the sound effects spread over the movie.
The movie in general, has some cheap elements to it.It looks like a TV movie, though it’s not badly shot. Some questionable editing choice, but nowhere near anything like “Alien Armageddon”. The director, though, has done a good job of working the story in with the visuals, adding some minor nods and hints on what is occurring. There are some shots from televisions of movies that, while public domain, were less about tossing a movie in order for them to watch, but to add to the tone of the story and anyone familiar with those movies could see the ties with this one.
Elijah in his original body (Paul David Story) looking "slightly to the left"
As for extras on the DVD, the movie comes with the basics. It has a photo gallery that’s just a slideshow with music, along with the trailer for the movie. There’s 3 trailers for other movies by the company (MTI), called Hunted By Night (also show on start up), One in the Gun, and Resurrection County.
There is also the 5.1 and 2.0 English audio, along with a Director’s commentary. It also features Spanish subtitles, though no English ones for the hearing impaired.
The Verdict:
Anyone interested who can look past the cheap layer of the movie and the music can probably find an interesting ghost story underneath. It’s not a typical ghost story with a typical payoff, and it works well because of that.
Worth a rental.