Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Rob van Opzeeland Okay, I see many people have reviewed this movie already, and the critical ones seem to either be fans of the book who hate the adaptation, or people who haven't read the book and thought it was boring. To the first group my question is: You thought the book was any good? I'm sorry, but this book turned me off Stephen King, and I guess I won't quickly read any of his new books anymore. Yes the main theme of his books always was the struggle between good and evil, but in this book he made it so blatantly religious it's simply offensive. Being critical about the character of God doesn't change anything about that, especially because there are no justifications given for this so- called supreme being whatsoever. The characters ask the question: If there's a God, why is he so cruel, the lame answer comes from David (and is confirmed by the plot). There is a God, best not to ask any more questions about him. Well wow, give the man a Nobel prize, hallelujah. What kind of an answer is that? Making the hero of a book a teenage boy with a Jesus complex is such a cop-out. How does he know anything? Because God tells him. Why doesn't God tell him important stuff like, best not drive down that road, there's a monster there who's gonna kill your entire family? Unanswered. "God is Cruel". Wow. If I were a Christian, I would be offended by that. Being an atheist it just makes me angry that religion is being presented as the solution, while glossing over all the evil things this God dude is clearly up to. The movie makes no effort to mask the "praise-the-lord-do-not-ask- difficult-questions" mentality either, the producers must have thought there was a market for a bible-belt evangelist horror flick. Instead of using a God-driven plot to actually discuss the difficulties this imaginary friend brings to the party, it presents the questions and answers them in the lamest possible way. "God is cruel, love him and serve him, or else some sicko-cop from hell is going to suck your soul out through your nose." That message spoke to me both from the book, and from the film. It amazes me they got together a halfway decent cast for this one. The cop is played very convincingly. A bit dumb to kill him halfway through the movie. Then there's Tom Skerrit's character. Again : Great actor, wasted on a script full of unrealistic God-fearing bull. The boy is okay as well, but I really pity that little fellow. Anyone having seen him in this movie with half a braincell will forever associate him now with a smart-ass Jesus-freak who claims to be special, but has no real answers to anything. Pardon my french, but this was one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen in my life, and if you think it spoke to you on some deep spiritual level, please, grow up, let go of your mysterious imaginary friend on a cloud, and understand you were duped. For any atheist, stay away from this film, stay FAR away from it.

MartianOctocretr5 Desperation time, alright. Ron Pearlman hams it up in what appears to be a satire of his own satire character, Hellboy. Annabeth Gish and Tom Skerrit aren't bad in their roles, but the paper thin script and atrocious direction give them very little to do. The remaining cast members blandly deliver expository lines that lead nowhere.Stephen King has had both success and failure in adapting other books he has written for the screen. This one goes to the goof-ups list. The script meanders wildly, without any cohesion. It's hard to take anything seriously, as the same slick-wannabe camera work shows us people towering like giants from an ant's point of view. Why things are happening as they are? You won't know, and you probably won't care, either. Clichés like the old "evil entity possessing a peace officer" routine are rampant.Still, it can pass the time if you're really bored. But don't expect much.

Mash-the-stampede Now I know it's always a gamble with Stephen King adaptions from book to film. however, I felt compelled to hire this film as i recently watched "The Mist" which i was quite impressed with. Sadly, hiring this film was the worst $8 i have ever spent! This film is complete rubbish from start to finish! The acting was terrible and the effects were even worse! I was very aware that I was watching a movie and not a very good one, nothing about this film sucked me in at all. I think the budget for this film must have been pent on the crack that the producers, director and cast were smoking while making this lame c-grade film. This movie only gets 1 star as it did have a semi-amusing performance by Ron Perlman but still....what was he thinking??? From "HELLBOY" to this?????!!!! Whether or not you're a fan of Stephen King (books of movies) this film should be avoided at all costs!

LoneWolfAndCub There are NO spoilers in this review, just questions I would like answered! My one question is: how? How on earth could such a talented writer, who brought such amazing horror novels such as: IT, Pet Semetary, Carrie, Christine and The Stand, write such nonsensical drivel. Everything, from the random comments the characters would make to the religious droning which was too contrived and forced to be of any depth, was terrible. The story, after starting off with a bang, descended literally into nothing. What the hell happened? Someone tell me please! Now, I have not read the novel, which is probably better than this movie, but an ounce of explanation would have helped. Who is Tak? Where did he come from? Why did he speak in a computerised voice? Was he God? What happened to the hundreds of dogs, did they just vanish? Those are a few questions I would love answered, as the story barely touches upon them. Besides the lackluster story, the characters are clichéd to the point of embarrassment. I mean, come on Mr. King: a skeptic, phony writer who becomes the hero, a kid who can speak with God, a drunken old man who tells the story, give me a break! Furthermore, it does not help that there are three good actors out of the bunch (Tom Skeritt, who looks like he is sleepwalking through the role, Steven Weber and the always reliable Ron Perlman). The little religious kid could NOT act to save his life, neither could the annoying hitchhiker or the kid's parents.What else is wrong here? Poor special effects, a made-for-TV feel and mediocre direction courtesy of regular Stephen King collaborator Mick Garris (who I find incredible overrated). Admittedly, he does conjure up a few genuine frights and a couple of eerie scenes, but these can not make up for the slow pace and lack of interesting story. There are only a few King adaptations which I have thought either fall into the overrated category or not-as-good-as-they-could-have-been category and this falls into the latter (assuming the book was at least good).1½/5