The low rating was not a good sign, and if other recent low-budget viewings were anything to go by was worried that it would be one of those that bad or worse films. But there was the concept, while a very weird one it was intriguing. So watched it anyway as part of one of my film and television quests (often completest).

Have seen worse films as part of my recent modest at best/low budget film quest definitely, but that is not saying that 'The Binding' is a good film. It isn't, not even close. It is also one of those films that doesn't intrigue at all, offers very little new (the concept was not a derivative one as such, but the execution is and is also too conventional and seemed resistant to take any risks. Got very little out of 'The Binding' sad to say.

One point in its favour is some atmosphere in the lighting, that is too far and between and is wasted by most of it being drab or too dark, a too compact setting, haphazard editing and some photography that induces nausea. 

Direction is at best pedestrian and this does affect the pacing, which is sluggish throughout, and the direction of the actors. Excepting the lead actress, who is serviceable, the cast look uncomfortable and inexperienced and the character interaction is very bland and sometimes random.

From start to finish, 'The Binding' badly lacks tension or suspense, which immediately dilutes the thriller element. Nothing scares and it all feels too safe, which is why there is so much predictability. Everything is easily foreseeable long before it happens and the pacing is just too dull and the atmosphere too anaemic. The script never sounds natural and the cheese factor is high and the interest factor low as can be. 

The story is ruined by being paper thin, useless padding and a very dull pace. It did feel too much like a short film stretched out to feature length with nowhere near enough content to fill it. At least it didn't leave me confused though. The characters are never interesting, even with few attempts to which are so flimsily developed that it is difficult to care for any of them, and frustrate with the way they behave. So many stupid and illogical character behaviours here matched by the far-fetched ending.

Concluding, a very weak film but not terrible. 3/10 Bethany Cox

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The Binding

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