Winchester

Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke head a decent cast in what proves to be a ghost movie totally devoid of any real scares, personality or any real reason to sit down and watch it. The acting is terrible. The editing is sloppy, and the special effects are third rate. It’s all very surprising considering it was directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, brothers who put together the inventive science fiction thriller Predestination. Clarke plays Eric Price, a doctor addicted to drugs and alcohol. His wife died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound via a Winchester rifle, a rifle he also took a bullet from but survived. (The script alludes to the notion that he was dead for three minutes before being brought back to life, so he might be able to see dead people.) Members of “the board” at the Winchester firearms company want Eric to evaluate the mental health of company owner Sarah Winchester (Mirren), hoping that the disgraced doctor will basically take their bribe, declare Sarah unfit to run her company, and strip her of company control. Eric has nothing better to do, so he takes the gig and travels to the infamous house, an admittedly cool-looking, giant abode that makes an actual appearance in the film. What we get is a ghost movie that trots out the same old tricks from countless ghost movies before it. Ghosts suddenly appearing accompanied by loud soundtrack sting? Check. Ghosts appearing in a mirror after its user adjusts it? Check. Little possessed kids singing a well-known song in that oh-so-creepy, possessed-kid kind of way? Check. There’s not one legitimate, well-orchestrated scare in the whole thing.