“Let go. Be afraid. You all taste so much better when you’re afraid.”
Pennywise- It
I wanted to watch another anthology after I enjoyed Trick ‘r Treat so much. So I remembered watching another one that came out around the same time as Trick ‘r Treat back in 2008. I searched everywhere, trying to remember its name and looking on lists until I finally found it… Amusement. I was on a list of the worst anthologies of all time.
I barely remember anything about Amusement except that it was an anthology and that it was about three girls being abducted. I got the plot’s gist right but calling this an anthology is being a little generous with the definition. There are essentially three different set pieces. The first takes place on the highway. The second is a babysitter. The last one is at an old hotel with more rooms and secret doors than seems physically possible.
The directions aren’t terrible, but the script is awful. There are several plot contrivances. This isn’t always bad in a horror film because you are typically dealing with supernatural elements, or you need to buy into a certain idea. The issue here is this is a grounded film. Something akin to Saw or Hostel. For instance, the first abduction relies on a completely implausible act by someone we don’t know and appears to be abducted themselves. I’m going to tell you. A woman who is being taken to rehab by her trucker boyfriend throws herself from a moving semi, nearly killing herself.
The second act is by far the best, but it’s way too short. Katheryn Winnick plays Tabitha. She is watching her cousins while her aunt is out. They have a spare room dedicated to creepy clowns. I’m not afraid of clowns, but Simpson does a great job with this portion of the film. The third act slows the film down and explains the connection. This connection is beyond dumb.
Outside of Winnick, the cast has a few recognizable faces but no big names. You will notice one for sure. Keir O’Donnell is mostly known for his role as Todd Cleary, the closeted artist in love with Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers. All the acting is pretty good. I didn’t dislike any performance outside of a few poorly acted side characters.
While the ending isn’t completely a dud, it does end on a head-scratcher. The production value and direction are above average, but the script is a mess. The acting and horror elements are terrific. There are some genuinely scary moments in Amusement. I won’t lie; I actually enjoyed this film. Amusement isn’t great, but it’s certainly not one of the worst anthologies of all time.
