the buildup is so skillfully constructed, the violence so brutal, the depiction of the sniper so nightmarish, and the tension so visceral that it's impossible not to find the movie totally effective
Ryuhei Kitamura's new horror thriller "Downrange" is one of the most efficient horror pics in recent memory and certainly one of my favorites of the year; The movie is that straightforward, that simple, and that visceral
keeping the characters (and audience) pinned like this for the whole film is a bold undertaking, but director Kitamura sticks with it, just as he sticks with Duel rools when it comes to the assailant, preserving the mystery
as obvious and nerve-wracking as a sniper up a tree; Satisfying enough as a horror/slasher flick with a black-comedy aftertaste, it has some commercial appeal but doesn't represent a step forward artistically
"Downrange" isn't a terrible movie, to be certain. It's well-made, the gore is wickedly over-the-top; However, the film simply suffers from poor pacing, bad editing, and a ridiculous ending that is so implausible that it's actually laughable
by Patrick Bromley [Daily Dead ]
by Norman Gidney [Film Threat ]
by Jonathan Barkan [Dread Central ]
