For those hungering for some more PARANORMAL ACTIVITY themed entertainment, the original creator of that franchise, Oren Peli, has got another venture into the genre with CHERNOBYL DIARIES, a supernatural thriller set in the world of “extreme tourism.” Directed by former visual effects artist/supervisor Bradley Parker, it stars Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Olivia Dudley and Nathan Phillips.
Here’s a synopsis:
The film follows a group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an “extreme tour” guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone…
All warmed up? Okay, then. Here’s the trailer:
I’m not a huge fan of this genre, but I can appreciate its allure. I actually got the chills a couple of times during the trailer, but that didn’t leave me with a burning desire to see the film. I think what ruins these films for me is the actors we’re supposed to root for. They always seem like they’re trying too hard to be “real” and they come off as phony. Yeah, it’s acting, I get it, but acting is still supposed to be convincing.
CHERNOBYL DIARIES starts radiating horror on May 25, 2012.