The Emerging Past Director's Cut (2017) Reviews

• Same Cast, Same Director, Same Bad Movie

  adam-394532017-03-28

  Written and Directed by Thomas Churchill, The Emerging Past is the same thing you would expect from watching his other movies. After watching several of Churchill's movies I have come to realize that he only works with a handful of people. It seems as if Churchill only casts his friends in his movie, which can be the reason why his movies are not up to par with other indie horror flicks out there today, but that isn't the only reason here. Churchill's approach to directing horror movies is obviously the gore factor, he tends to overdo it when it comes to gore, less is more my friend. His writing style is bland and has no emotion in it what so ever, could be the actors fault also. If the budget of his films went towards quality actors and not so much on gore and less than standard effects, then maybe his films would serve to be better than they are. I am not here to bash Thomas Churchill or his films. I actually have a high respect for the man. I am just trying to give my opinion, one that could help him progress his career. As a person Churchill is wonderful, I have met the man, but as a filmmaker he is lacking in a few areas, those being, screen writing, casting and directing. These areas can be fixed however, 1: Stop putting your friends in your movies, you do not owe them anything. This is your career and your money, make it worth your while to cast quality actors and actresses. 2: You do not need to go over the top with gore and effects. What I and most people love about horror movies is the suspense and thrill of them, too much gore takes away from the scare factor and thrill of it all. 3: You do not need to put yourself in your own movies. Either direct or act. There are very few actors who can pull off both of these and make it work, Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck and Kevin Smith are 3 that come to mind that know when and where to do this. 4: Smooth out your writing, stop trying to make everyone love each character. Connect the dots with side characters. Churchill knows how to direct and write but it seems he cannot do both for the same project. Try directing someone else's screenplay or have someone else direct your screenplay. Give it a whirl. Again, there are very few people who can write and direct their own work. This film, in my opinion, was not good. The over the top gore and dialog did it in for me. Nothing was believable and downright laughable at times. I was hoping for a better film than the previous Check Point that was recently released. I am giving it 3/10 because I like Thomas Churchill as a person, but the changes I mentioned need to be made or else he will soon be thrown into the genre of the likes of Uwe Boll.

  More

• Woefully undercooked indie thriller

  Leofwine_draca2017-03-30

  THE EMERGING PAST is another waste-of-time independent thriller with a poor unfocused script that never really gives life to the characters involved in the right kind of way. Watching it becomes a test of the viewer's patience, waiting for something to happen to the female protagonist or waiting for a reason to care about her, but we never do. Yes, this film is quit well shot and has a semi-professional look to it; the bright office backdrops reminded me of SPOTLIGHT at times. Unfortunately, there's little to no storyline at all to go with the visuals, just a lady who gets put on leave by her angry boss (a cameoing Stephen Geoffreys, of FRIGHT NIGHT fame). There's little in the way of horror content or actual thrills, indeed this doesn't really amount to much at all.

  More

• They're All In It

  mikeledo2017-06-30

  The film opens with news photographer Pam Garrett (Krista Grotte) describing to a priest about a cult killing. Then the priest is murdered and we see Pam being locked up. Then we flashback to her lover, a priest and we get to see the aforesaid cult killing and we are back watching the opening scene an hour later. A long hour later. The disjointed film wasn't hard to figure out. Either what she saw was real or it wasn't. The soundtrack dragged. The camera angles were all bad for effect. And it seemed everyone in the film learned to speak from Carlton the Doorman (MTM, Rhoda). Krista Grotte was very unconvincing in her role..BTW thanks for the shower. There is also a scene where a Catholic priest recites the Protestant version of "The Lord's Prayer." Not well researched. Guide: F-word, nudity.

  More