Where the Scary Things Are

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TheMovieSearch R Where the Scary Things Are is one of those movies that seems like it could’ve been an enjoyable, lighthearted genre blend—a sort of spooky adventure with a playful tone—but instead, it ends up tangled in its own confusion. It wants to be part horror, part coming-of-age mystery, and part creature feature, but none of those elements ever come together in a satisfying way. What starts as a concept that could’ve been fun and self-aware quickly turns into a disjointed mess where every scene feels like it’s part of a different movie. The tone shifts constantly, the pacing lags, and the story doesn’t seem to know what it’s trying to say—or even what kind of experience it wants to deliver. The screenplay is easily the weakest link here. It’s as if the writers had a handful of decent ideas but didn’t know how to thread them together into one coherent narrative. There are moments where the film feels like it’s finding its footing—where the story starts to connect and you think it might actually turn around—but those moments never last. Just as you start to invest, it veers off into another subplot or introduces a random new character, leaving you wondering what movie you’re even watching anymore. The long-haired man’s sudden arrival, for example, feels less like a plot twist and more like someone shuffled the script out of order. It’s frustrating because you can sense there’s potential somewhere underneath it all. The concept of a mysterious creature tied to a group of teens has been done before, but it can still work when handled with some balance and restraint. The problem here is that everything feels unchecked. There’s no discipline in the storytelling, no editing hand guiding it toward a clear message or emotional through-line. It’s like everyone involved wanted to make a different kind of movie—and instead of picking one vision, they just crammed them all in and hoped it would somehow blend together. Directorially, it’s clear there wasn’t enough oversight or willingness to challenge the material. A strong director would’ve looked at this screenplay and said, “We need structure.” There are places that cry out for reworking—scenes that should’ve been rewritten, characters that needed depth, pacing that needed tightening—but instead, the production just barrels forward as if no one wanted to speak up. That kind of complacency kills creativity, and this film is a prime example of what happens when a director follows a flawed script too faithfully. The cast doesn’t help much either. It’s not that anyone is outright terrible; it’s that they all feel miscast, like they belong in different movies. There’s no chemistry or grounding among them, and that lack of cohesion makes it even harder for the audience to stay invested. Some of the performances feel overly theatrical while others are painfully flat, creating a constant imbalance that mirrors the film’s messy tone. Ultimately, Where the Scary Things Are fails not because it had no potential, but because no one seemed willing to guide that potential into focus. It’s a scattered, oddly-paced, and often confusing film that mistakes chaos for creativity. There’s no buildup of tension, no consistent mood, and no lasting sense of fear or fun—just a jumble of disconnected ideas that never come together. What could’ve been a quirky little genre flick ends up as yet another example of how sloppy storytelling and weak direction can derail an otherwise promising premise. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/30/25 Full Review NAE N I'm upset about teacher says its urban legend that razors and needles in holloween candy. It was the late 70s early 80s trick or treating in Bronx, NY I had 5 families im related to on both sides of the family living on the street. These neighbors have known each other for decades so our parents thought it would be safe ,but sure enough our parents went through our candy and there was a razor blade in the candy so its not fake Myself my siblings, and cousins lived it. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/29/25 Full Review Dani L. Just AWFUL! This was such a pain to get through! I really can’t believe I watched it all. Worst acting, and actors I’ve seen yet. Don’t waste your time. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/25/25 Full Review Ashley R I just watched the movie Overall I give it a 3 1⁄2. Some of the actors in the movie were on point , However I don't think they put its full potential In the movie. They really should have a spin off And I think it would be better. The monster's pretty cool. I wish the teacher would have lived, only because he was a non believer who actually saw a fact to a legend. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/25 Full Review Angela C Worst movie ive ever seen. That's over an hour of life wasted on this horrible movie. Im not sure what was worse ...the actors or the acting. Michael Cervantes is in it so my expectations weren't very high ti start with. I was still let down with how boring this movie was. The acting was more like a middle school play .... awful. The only good acting was the teacher. He was the only one that did any good acting. Don't waste your time on this movie. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/18/25 Full Review Cristian s Muy clase B pero sorprendentemente llevadera de ver. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/04/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Where the Scary Things Are

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