WE ARE WHAT WE ARE [2013]

Based upon the Mexican horror film Somos Lo Que Hay, director Jim Mickle turns the story into something far different from it's source material with We Are What We Are.
Toning down the grisly horror of the original and opting for more of a subtle and moody American Gothic piece makes for a bit more elegance...well...as elegant as films about cannibalism can get.  The gender of every single character is changed which alters the moods and actions of each character, however it's biggest problem is that none of them are given much of a personality.  With the setting changes comes a story about American religion and mental & physical health issues, instead of the story about capitalism and poverty in the original.  If it's horror that you're looking for perhaps seek out the original but if it's a twisted, unsettling drama then this one is the one to go to because really, neither is better than the other.

3 family traditions out of 5

THE INNKEEPERS [2011]

I'm a sucker for ghost stories so naturally I'd be drawn towards Ti West's The Innkeepers.

West crafts an evenly paced slow-burning creepy story with a healthy dose of well-timed humour all beautifully framed with moody lighting and crawling photography.  Sarah Paxton and Pat Healy are cute as the goofy hotel employees even if their fast-talking personalities put the slow-burning story off balance.  There's a few moments of frustrating stupidity and it never really does anything we haven't seen before but in the end it's a pretty safe bet you'll enjoy it if you like a good ghost story. 

3 images your eyes might not see out of 5