Watch Altar

Altar is a 2014 British horror movie directed by Nick Willing, starring Olivia Williams, Matthew Modine, and Antonia Clarke. The movie was released on August 1, 2014, in the UK. The story of Altar starts with a young British couple, Meg Hamilton (Olivia Williams) and Alec Hamilton (Matthew Modine), who moves to a remote countryside house in an attempt to save their marriage. They have a daughter, Penny (Antonia Clarke), who is always accompanied by her imaginary friend, The Sandman. As soon as they arrive at the house, they start experiencing strange occurrences, such as hearing noises in the middle of the night and seeing apparitions. Meg's sense of reality starts to slip away as she feels watched all the time. The couple invites their old friends, plus the wife's sister and her partner, to spend the weekend with them. However, their peaceful plan has taken an unexpected turn when the group starts to experience unexplainable paranormal activities. Soon they discover that the house sits on ancient burial grounds that have been disturbed, causing disturbances in the spiritual realm. What started as a pleasant holiday turns into a nightmare as the group realizes that they may all be in grave danger. The premise of Altar is nothing new, but the execution of the film is commendable. The director used the setting effectively, putting emphasis on the claustrophobic atmosphere, which created an uneasy feeling among the audience. The movie relied heavily on practical effects, which added to the authenticity of the events taking place. The acting was also impressive, with Olivia Williams being the standout performer. She captured the essence of Meg's despair and confusion with finesse. Matthew Modine played his part well, showing the frustration of a husband trying to salvage his marriage, but failing miserably. The movie's pace was slower than usual, but it worked in the favor of the plot. The tension gradually started building up, with the audience never knowing when the jump-scares or disturbing incidents would come to fruition. The movie's soundscape was particularly impressive, helping to heighten the feeling of dread. The music and sound effects were used effectively in creating the ambiance of the horror film, and it was clear that the filmmakers paid attention to the smallest details. The movie's cinematographer, David Katznelson, should be commended for his fantastic work. The camera angles and movements were well-executed, and the use of shadows added to the creepiness of the film. However, despite all these positive aspects, the movie does have its share of flaws. The cliched story and predictable jump-scares give the impression of the filmmakers playing it safe rather than taking risks. Furthermore, the film's climax is underwhelming, with a disappointing resolution. In conclusion, Altar is a well-executed horror film that delivers on scares and tension, but ultimately falls short due to its familiar storyline and disappointing ending. Nevertheless, it is worth a watch for horror movie fans who enjoy atmospheric scares and practical effects.