Lovely Molly

Name: Lovely Molly
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: May 18, 2012
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Alexandra Holden, Field Blauvelt, Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis

2012

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Lovely Molly

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Movie Details & Credits

Image Entertainment | Release Date: May 18, 2012 | R

Starring: Alexandra Holden, Field Blauvelt, Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis

Summary: When newlywed Molly Reynolds returns to her long-abandoned family home. Reminders of a nightmarish childhood begin seeping into her new life. A malevolent force, whether her own haunted past or some supernatural "thing", tirelessly seeks to overwhelm her. Alone and isolated in a centuries-old house, she soon begins an inexorable descentWhen newlywed Molly Reynolds returns to her long-abandoned family home. Reminders of a nightmarish childhood begin seeping into her new life. A malevolent force, whether her own haunted past or some supernatural "thing", tirelessly seeks to overwhelm her. Alone and isolated in a centuries-old house, she soon begins an inexorable descent into depravity. Somewhere in the house, in the terrible space between psychosis and possession, lies an evil that will pull molly and all those around her into darkness and death. (Image Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Eduardo Sánchez

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

Farran Smith Nehme

May 18, 2012

Gore is always with us, but when it comes to horror, there's nothing like a haunted house. And Lovely Molly has a humdinger. Read full review

Alison Willmore

May 16, 2012

Lovely Molly is a portrait of either spiraling madness or a haunting, and it deftly handles the slow erosion of its title character's consciousness. Landing somewhere between "Repulsion" and "Paranormal Activity," it keeps the jump scares to a minimum and allows its formidable lead performance to be its best special effect. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

May 18, 2012

Generating suspense without blowing the special-effects budget, Mr. Sanchez paints an intimate portrait of a tormented personality. Though horrors are eventually unveiled, the film is more chilling in its slower, quieter moments. Read full review

Adam Litovitz

May 31, 2012

Lovely Molly is determined to remain ambiguous, but the title says it all. Good-Lookin' Joanie just wouldn't have the same ominous ring to it. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

May 15, 2012

Judging from Sánchez's Lovely Molly, he'd like to get lost in the trees again, but now knows the path too well. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

May 14, 2012

The film's inconsistent, largely bankrupt style is second to how hard and tackily it leans on the horror of child abuse to goose audiences. Read full review

Nick Pinkerton

May 15, 2012

It can't sustain interest in the endless unraveling of Molly's psyche, which, as handled by Sánchez, has all the interest of watching an inexplicably untreated wound fester. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dr_Blood

Sep 20, 2012

I had no idea that "Lovely Molly" was directed by Eduardo Sánchez or I probably wouldn't have watched it. I've never had anything good to say about "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), and "Altered" (2006) wasn't very memorable. Maybe I shouldn't be prejudiced against certain directorsI had no idea that "Lovely Molly" was directed by Eduardo Sánchez or I probably wouldn't have watched it. I've never had anything good to say about "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), and "Altered" (2006) wasn't very memorable. Maybe I shouldn't be prejudiced against certain directors (since most of them are only hired for their ability to boss everyone around on set), but, in the case of Eduardo Sánchez, he's always tried to be something of an auteur. The problem is, of course, that if you set yourself up as such, trying to be all groundbreaking, innovative and original, your movie is either going to be a huge success or completely suck.

However, "Lovely Molly" really surprised me in a good way especially as it was yet another low-budget entry into the horror genre. I wouldn't call the estimated $1,000,000 budget all that low, but, in movie terms, it was the minimum amount which would allow all the bells and whistles for acceptable production values or to hire decent talent both in front of and behind the camera.

I'd hazard a guess that most of the budget was spent on the cast as my one major gripe with "Lovely Molly" was that it seemed to lack a lighting crew. Maybe the intention was to add atmosphere to the already neglected-looking setting, but the gloominess came across as annoying and a product of some very amateur camerawork particularly in daylight when the sun was behind the actors.

That nitpicking aside, the acting was phenomenal. Gretchen Lodge, in particular, was not only very beautiful and realistically so, but she was outstanding in her role as Molly. Although, physically, she occasionally reminded me of Cécile De France from "High Tension" (2003), she really brought her character to life, and her personality change as the story progressed wouldn't have been out of place in an Academy Award nominated movie. According to the IMDb, this was her first movie, and that makes her performance even more incredible. If only every horror actress was this good, we wouldn't have all those embarrassing wannabes in the "Women of Horror" clique who I'm sure you've all encountered over the years.

I didn't really bother to look up the credentials of the other actors and actresses involved as there were no bad performances from any of them. Obviously, Alexandra Holden as Hannah, Molly's sister, had another superb yet far too brief role, and Johnny Lewis as Tim, Molly's truck-driving husband, really came through with a sympathetic performance which made me feel quite sorry for his otherwise spineless character.

"Lovely Molly" was a very character driven story so it might seem slow to a lot of people. When it started with a wedding, I feared another "[REC]³ Génesis" about to happen, but, fortunately, it was completely different. There were some superficial similarities as, once again, a video camera played an important part, but this was not a found footage movie or a parody of the genre. "Lovely Molly" was a serious, ballsy, taboo-laden amalgam of admittedly derivative themes set in a very real and low-income environment.

Because this is a fairly recently released movie which you probably haven't seen yet, I'm avoiding the spoilers (and details) as much as I can. Suffice it to say that there was a lot of nudity, some extreme sexiness which I really didn't expect, and all sorts of horrific nastiness, violence, bloodshed, and murder along the way. You can find out a lot more by visiting the official website which I suggest that you do anyway before you watch "Lovely Molly" as there are some "Blair Witch"-style features on there which add a lot of details to the backstory.

I will just add that one of my favourite scenes was between Molly and Pastor Bobby (played by Field Blauvelt), but I'm not going to give away any more than that.

Now that I've had time for it all to sink in, "Lovely Molly" was absolutely the best and most original horror movie that I've seen so far this year. It was a little bit slow to begin with, very confusing near the end, and slightly overambitious, but the acting was worthy of a horror Oscar if such a thing existed.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

ILHM

Jan 31, 2013

Newlyweds Tim and Molly move in to Molly's childhood home after the death of her parents, but the demons from the past return to haunt her as she spirals back in to drugs and paranoia. LOVELY MOLLY is an exercise in claustrophobic tension and psychological terror from THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECTNewlyweds Tim and Molly move in to Molly's childhood home after the death of her parents, but the demons from the past return to haunt her as she spirals back in to drugs and paranoia. LOVELY MOLLY is an exercise in claustrophobic tension and psychological terror from THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT director Eduardo Sánchez. Like Lars von Trier's ANTICHRIST, LOVELY MOLLY is deeply embedded with occult symbolism and paranoid delusion as Sánchez draws a dizzying veil of madness around his characters. The lines of reality are often blurred and left open to interpretation throughout the film as a result, which can sometimes have a disorienting effect on the viewer. On top of its suffocating mood, LOVELY MOLLY succeeds in creating a number of subtle scares through its spine-tingling sound design, putting the audience on edge without saturating the screen in blood or gore. Gretchen Lodge is as much an asset as she is a liability as Molly. At times, her blatant overacting destroys the illusion, but for every misstep, she counters with an equally-haunting moment of dread. If one thing can be said for certain, however, it is that Lodge has fully committed herself to this role, and she truly believes in the character she is portraying on screen. Atmosphere wins out above all else in this chilling little mood piece.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

jamesfestini

Oct 9, 2012

I really wanted to be scared. There was only 2 scenes where I was covering my eyes. Yeah, I'm a wuss. Anyhow there was nothing. The best part was here awesome naked body. Until the end. Then her body was not that hot. Oh, wait I am reviewing the movie right?

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Feb 6, 2018

I liked the atmosphere but it dilutes very quickly, the characters have a very poor development and the little the story offers is barely enough.
Far from being a resounding failure, but very simplistic to create a real impact.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Turbodowg

Mar 11, 2014

I love horror movies. I've been watching them since the 80's. It's really hard to find the next big thrill amongst all the rubbish that is produced these days. I was advised by a friend, that this is a creepy and disturbing well acted horror and well worth my time. But the truth is... itsI love horror movies. I've been watching them since the 80's. It's really hard to find the next big thrill amongst all the rubbish that is produced these days. I was advised by a friend, that this is a creepy and disturbing well acted horror and well worth my time. But the truth is... its absolutely terrible.

Me and my wife were literally laughing in hysterics at how badly acted the film was. The lead actress is an unlikeable, spoilt, self centred little Emo who just needs to be told to grow up, and get rid of that annoying hair cut. The film has no continuity, no pacing and has no idea what sub genre of horror it wants to be. A demon movie, a psychological thriller, a found footage movie, a gore movie, a paranormal movie, a movie about addiction and grief, or a cheating husband, or child killers, or horse head racoon bendy arm beast movie.

It really is an absolute mess. Not one scene avoided cliché, and not one scene made me jump. By 60 minutes in of nothing happening I very nearly turned it off.

Please avoid this at all costs, you will waste an evening where a decent film could have been watched. Unless you want a good laugh drinking with a few mates and mocking the poor level of film making... AVOID!!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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