The premise for the story intrigued and sounded quite good, regardless of its lack of originality. The cover gave the sense it would be fairly suspenseful and interesting. 'Tormented' was definitely not a film that sounded like it was going to be a disaster hearing about it.

It as a film is still not that much of a disaster too, there are merits here. The decent potential shown initially is sadly not sustained and generally not lived up to, so sadly 'Tormented' is not a particularly good film either. As indicated just now, there was no initial bias against it or wanting to dislike it at all. Far from the truth, actually thought it had potential to be an unexceptional but not too bad film. It was a real shame it wasn't that, but it could have been so much worse.

'Tormented' does have good elements. The acting from the two female leads is serviceable, Alysa King doing quite well with such an indecisively written character. The music is ominous without being too intrusive or obvious.

First impressions were a promising start that did intrigue and had some slow-burning suspense.

Sadly, that slow-burning suspense was far from sustained all the way through. 'Tormented' generally lacks tension, danger and suspense, hurt by that it treads familiar ground so often that any surprises or anything new cannot be seen. The characters fail to be interesting and don't have much to make one endear to them due to colourless personalities and the way they behave, it was purposeful for some but don't think that was intent for all of them to be so. The direction does well with the visuals at times but in terms of the storytelling it fails, being pedestrian in a lot of the first half and then losing control in the second. The film gets melodramatic and static in places and should have been much bolder, for a film with this concept it was rather tame. It is constantly shot in a flat, drab look that just looks too dreary for the story and lacks atmosphere.

Promising beginning aside, the first half is on the dull side and struggles to find its footing. While the second half does pick up things start getting silly, rushed and implausible with so much ridiculous decision making and behaviour, some of it making one feel stupid, culminating in an ending that ends too suddenly and almost unfinished-like. The dialogue is cheesy and very difficult to take seriously, also not flowing naturally. Other actors don't look engaged or comfortable, especially those playing characters that are meant to intimidate but grate instead.

Concluding, not terrible but also not good. 4/10 Bethany Cox

TORMENTED is another cheap independent horror film set in a single building. A young woman is having a bad day, but things are about to be put into perspective when she finds herself menaced by a kid in a scary mask. Yep, it's another weak retread of the whole THE STRANGERS set up, with segments of ILS (THEM) added to the mix. Sadly, what follows is entirely predictable and routine, matters not helped by the unsympathetic protagonist.

Why cast a woman aged in her early 30s in the lead role of a 17yo? That's just the start! Don't waste your time on this rubbish.