'WINCHESTER': Three Stars (Out of Five)
A supernatural horror film based on the true story of Sarah Winchester, the widow of the notorious gun manufacturer William Winchester. Mrs. Winchester famously had an enormous mansion built, known as the Winchester Mystery House, to imprison spirits that she felt wanted revenge for deaths caused by Winchester firearms. The movie stars Helen Mirren as Winchester, and it costars Jason Clarke and Sarah Snook. It was directed by Michael and Peter Spierig (the duo also helmed such other popular horror flicks as 'DAYBREAKERS', 'JIGSAW'and 'UNDEAD'), and it was scripted by the Spierig brothers and Tom Vaughn. I found it to be decently made, but not anything especially memorable.
50 miles outside of San Francisco, Sarah Winchester (Mirren) was having a seven story house built; 24-hours a day, seven days a week, for decades. She believed that the house was haunted by vengeful ghosts killed by Winchester firearms (manufactured by her late husband). The widow was having the mansion built to imprison them. A doctor, by the name of Eric Price (Clarke), is called to the house to evaluate her mental stability. Eric surprisingly sees the haunted spirits too.
I've enjoyed the Spierig brothers other films (especially 'DAYBREAKERS'). This one has a great true story premise to it, and you couldn't ask for a better cast (for a B horror flick like this). Still, ultimately the movie is kind of boring, and forgettable. It's interesting at times though, and it does have a cool old horror flick feel to it. It's not one I'll remember for long though (at least I don't think I will).
