It’s fairly obvious from its setting that inspiration is drawn from The Shining and the subject of trauma is at the heart of this feature with promise of disturbing reflection on the impact that this has on all who come into its path. The slow, meandering start to this movie however leaves one a little misguided by what is about to unfold. There is a lot of time spent on the quartet of female characters who are all going through various stages of turmoil and are leaning into a false desire to reach enlightenment. So embroiled are they though in their embittered lives that they neglect to remedy their own healing. 

Pulling them deeper into their conflict is the narratives’ protagonist (Gayle Rankin – Men) who has inherited a snowy resort from her Grandmother. There is however a continuing threat from her mother (Molly Ringwald – Cut) who may or may not be unhinged, but definitely is the bearer of some traumatic psychological scars. 

These ongoing conflicts between the group and their own demons play a part in the web of confusion as the labyrinth of the resort surrounds them and consumes their fears, only to spew it back out upon them. An indicator that they can not seem to deal with their suffering. 

It’s a shame though that the story too gets lost and the intentions of the characters are too murky for the audience to bear any commonality with nor find solace in their plight.

The Prognosis:

The elements embedded in Bad Things are a clear homage to The Shining, but where Stanley Kubrick embarked in a deeply psychological and traumatic narrative, helmed by the depth of character that Jack Torrance embodied and wonderfully portrayed by Jack Nicholson, the realms of insanity on display here are thwarted by a shallow interpretation of persona.

Stewart Thorndike does attempt to steer the inspiration into a new direction with an avenue of intrigue and entropy, but her characters are already lost at the start and without hope of resolving their internal conflict.

• Saul Muerte

Bad Things is streaming in Shudder from Fri 18th August.