Furnace (Unrated)

I haven't reviewed many movies. And just being honest here, I think there's more to consider when reviewing a movie than there is when reviewing a book. Primarily because I think 'things' (And this could just be me), heard and seen visually have more of an impact on people than things that they just read. One movie I reviewed was 'specifically' and only because the cursing in it offended me and I didn't agree with the PG-13 rating.(I'm no stranger to cursing), but when I don't want my children even in the room, that kind of spells it out for me. And had I had known that by a more accurate rating, I wouldn't have started watching it, nor allowed them to begin watching it and then had to say, "You can't watch this anymore!" Forest Gump is another movie with some gruesome parts but I still agree with the PG-13 rating as it wasn't something I left the movie specifically remembering.That said, 'Furnace' isn't rated, it is a "Horror/Suspense" and over all I don't think I would mind if my 15 year old watched it when he was 13, though I wouldn't go lower than that age. (Far as violence and weird he's probably seen worse in video games. (There is a sex scene), but I think it's tastefully done, and I'm also one of those "strange beings" that think there are far worse things than sex. (None of us would be here, were it not for that, and that's something I think most 13 year olds now days are aware of. So I must say, "Great Special Effects Alone... Does Not A Great Movie Make."Now on to Furnace. Which does have some great special effects that fit with the story line of the movie. But in addition to that, I was pleasantly surprised to find that when you review it all the way around, it's solid there as well. Meaning there is a story and it's an interesting and "Quite Out There" one. And also there is some solid acting all the way around as well. Creepy? Yes. Will it make you jump on a few occasions? Yes! But I don't think I'm going to be having any nightmare's either. The most recognizable people in it are Michael Pare as the detective who has the typical burden one would expect a law enforcer to be bearing, Tom Sizemore who has a chip on his shoulder for the detective and who succeeds in making you not like him, and Danny Trejo because I remember him from many other films (Dust Till Dawn) being just one, and he's one actor that you always remember. I don't know if this is Ja Rule's acting debut but if it is, he has done better than well. And the 'Doc' "Jenny McShane" also puts in a very strong performance. (I think if this was just horror with no substantial story to base it on, or special effects alone, this movie would be an abysmal failure). But because you get to liking the detective, hating the guard, and liking the "Doc" when things start happening, you actually care what happens to them.I think some of the reviews here have already said pretty much perhaps what happens in this movie but I for one, am going to have to watch it again, as there is something said, at the very end, and in order to see if that is what was 'really' taking place, I would have to view it again and pay more attention. (Although I thought I was paying attention the first time and my attention was held throughout).Definitely entertaining and definitely something that will make you think about "things" outside the normal realm, we have yet to fully understand. What is the most frightening of all, is it is said to be based on a true story. Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak

When rating a horror movie, I go by the chill factor (no pun intended) and the "grip" it keeps on me throughout the viewing.  Furnace (Unrated)  was creepily chilling, gripping me from the beginning: yellowed newspaper clippings against a dark prison background with shooting flames devouring everything in sight. The stories headlined a warden's daughter "gone missing," an old prison closing under mysterious circumstances and something about an Indian burial ground. It was an eerie start to a thrilling, supernatural horror film. Furnace (Unrated)  opens with a guard smashing his fingers while aiding in the re-opening of the walled-off section of the prison, then going home and doing something horrible, leaving his young wife devastated.Bad things are happening to so many of the prisoners that the detective played by actor Michael Pare opens an investigation to determine what's going on in order to stop the death and destruction.The main female lead is played by lovely, talented Jenny McShane who plays a prison psychiatrist. McShane and Pare are well cast in these roles.What happens when the detective calls on "The Doc" to help get to the bottom of the mystery? What is one of her aging patients hiding? He's an inmate named Simon and knows something about the warden and his daughter from long ago? But what? Is he the killer or is it something more sinister? Are supernatural forces at work? And what does the prison furnace have to do with the tragedies?One predictable outcome is that Pare and McShane's characters are attracted to each other, but the bedroom scene is not what you would expect. The evil finds them and causes one of the most frightening scenes in the movie. McShane's dramatic skills dominate this scene, which is my favorite scene in the entire movie. Realistic performance!A performance you'll have to see for yourself to find out what happens and learn the answers to the above questions.I highly recommend this movie--on the stipulation that you lock all your windows and doors before it commences. You might start jumping at your own shadow.In addition to McShane and Pare, Ja Rule puts in a surprisingly good performance as a troubled prisoner. But it's no surprise that veteran actor Tom Sizemore gives a great performance as the prison guard you love to hate. He has it "in" for our brave detective so causes more twists in this chilling horror.True horror buffs will not want to miss this one! Great graphics!ENDNOTE:The cover fits the movie, but I was disappointed that it had pictures of four male actors on front, but relegated Jenny McShane to the back; she was, after all, the lead actress. Hmmmmm...Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, August 2009Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von)

good quailty of the movie and fast shipping.

I was not sure what this dvd was about when I ordered it, buy boy am I glad I did purchase it. This was a real mystery all the way through till the end. I can't give any clues as that will spoil the drama of this film. For a real treat you should see this one (maybe not late at night though).

I bought this film..and really really wanted to love it. I love Tom Seizemore..and Danny Trejo is simply a modern cult star. It starts out very good with interesting character development and pretty eerie setting. Though the horror aspect of this film is derivative of much better films like the Ring, and the elm street series..it does try to put it's own signature on it. The movie was entertaining enough to keep me interested...however when the credits rolled I was ultimately disappointed as in my opinion poor writing made the flick fall apart and squandered a good opportunity for a good film.

I gave this movie 3 stars because it didn't take long to find out that the ending was going to be pretty predictable. The movie mostly takes place in a gloomy old prison that has a haunted basement. The acting was routine. It's a good movie to watch where you don't have to think a lot.

Great production work, fun actors... story isn’t going to make your brain work but it’s a fun movie to watch

The actual scenery here is very dark as they are in the bowels of a prison. Decent story line. The acting is good enough and it is suspenseful. I don't think it is really that entertaining nor that scary but it is not horribly bloody either so its worth giving it a viewing. Wouldn't spend a whole lot of money on it.

Excavations in Blackgate Prison commence to reopen an abandoned section of the jail, due to a sudden influx of new inmates. Both prisoners and guards start to die, apparently at their own hands. Detective Turner(Michael Pare) investigates, and discovers that their might be an altogether more sinister force at work, as he uncovers dark secrets about the prisons past.When I watched the directors previous excursion into the horror genre 'Madhouse' I was greatly impressed. In fact, that film was one of the most inventive, clever horror films I had seen in quite a while. So I entered this film with very high expectations. Perhaps too high. Both films have buildings that house dark secrets. Both films are atmospheric and create quite a lot of tension. So, why was I dissapointed with Furnace?Well, I think for a start that the cast didnt quite gel as a team. In Madhouse, there were great performances by Joshua Leonard and Lance Hendrikson, to name but two. Whilst everybody seems to be giving their all, there are no performances of such note to be found here. The plot is also a little contrived and muddled in this film, whilst in Madhouse, the labyrinthian twists and turns were entirely justified, in both tricking and teasing the audience.It's no bad film by any means, but it does come across a little too much like the superior 80's horror Prison, and isnt half as entertaining. Still worth a watch though. 3 out of 5

Prompt despatch, excellent

everything is find, delay reasonable and CD is not broken! cool!