Starring: Jesse McCartney
Directed by: Bradley Parker

Today, I decided to go to the mall to get my haircut done, check out a movie and do a little shopping. I ended up seeing the horror film, “Chernobyl Diaries”. I’m a fan of those low budget, found footage movies. Here is my review:

Plot/Synopsis: Six tourists hire an extreme tour guide who takes them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. During their exploration, they soon discover they are not alone.

A lot of people are giving this film negative reviews, but did they see the same film that I saw? I thought it was a pretty good one. I was surprised on how realistic the film was. Even though this film is fiction, it is based on real life events. Remember, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, was actually the real thing in, Ukraine. The 6 tourists wanted to check the place out, and enjoy themselves. They noticed something dangerous about the place already, and next thing you know, they learn that there are all kinds of dangerous animals. Mostly mutated dogs, bears, and there was even mutated fish in the film. Back in the real life story of the 1986 Chernobyl radioactive accident, it actually mutated animals and perhaps, actual humans too.

A lot of people mistakenly called this a zombie film, but after thinking about it, the things in this movie, are not zombies. They are mutants. Animals and humans were mutated by radiation. I was pretty surprised on how real this movie was. Oren Peli, just wanted to remind people of the 1986 Chernobyl accident, which most people seem to have forgotten. Not sure if the actual movie itself was filmed at the Reactor, probably not, because I’m sure the place is still closed down to this day ’cause it might be dangerous to go there still.

Watching the movie, I was even creeped out at some parts in the film. Probably, the scenes where they were exploring the reactor trying to find their missing friends. The acting and directing wasn’t the greatest, but I was most impressed with the reality of the film, that it was based on the real thing. I’m sure these movies will get turned into a series of sequels, so I’m sure the sequels will reveal more secrets of this film. How humans and animals were mutated? How the radioactive accident happened? Things like that. The casting wasn’t the greatest either, but I was most impressed with the blonde girl in the film, who played Zoe. I think her real name is Ingrid Bolso Berdal, who is a Norwegian actress. She’s a pretty hot woman and I couldn’t get my eyes off her.

I thought, “Chernobyl Diaries”, was a good movie. I just wish it got more respect it deserves. It didn’t do well in the box office. Well, most “found footage” movies don’t do too well in the box office. Unless, a “Paranormal Activity” movie comes out, you know it’s going to be a guaranteed hit.

Score for “Chernobyl Diaries” = *** (3 stars as in “good”)

Kev