Starring: Sarah Snook, Joelle Carter, Mark Webber, David Andrews, Ana de la Reguera, Amber Stevens West, Chris Ellis, Brian Hallisay, Vaughn Wilson, Larisa Oleynik, Fran Bennett
Review: After a horrific car accident, Jessabelle (Sarah Snook) returns to her childhood home in Louisiana. While recovering she soon uncovers secrets about her family's mysterious past and a malevolent spirit who's been eager for her return.
Jessabelle really surprised me. It has a creepy setting, genuine scares, and a feeling of dread that lasts long after the end credits role. All of that makes for a great horror movie, but what really makes it worth the watch is its lead actress, Sarah Snook.
Snook effortlessly carries this movie which seems like it would be rather difficult since for its entirety she's confined to a wheelchair and for most of her scenes she's alone and has very little dialogue. She effectively displays her fear wonderfully through facial expression, body language, and nerve-shattering screams that'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She garners an honest sympathy from the audience right off the bat. As Jessabelle she seems sweet, honest, and, for a majority of the movie, absolutely scared. She's so good in this movie that I wish she was starring in just about everything. And she's a looker to boot!
Also, Snook is surrounded by good actors giving strong performances. The cast includes the super talented Joelle Carter (Justified) as her mother, David Andrews as her gruff father, Mark Webber as her high school sweetheart, and the always reliable character actor Chris Ellis as the local sheriff. These actors really ground this ghost story and get you invested like all stories should.
What I also enjoyed is that Jessabelle takes its time to build tension, establish its characters, and set the mood so you are as terrified as our protagonist when things go bump in the night. Once the story gets rolling, mysteries are uncovered, and secrets get revealed, it's truly haunting movie. Some might discard it as just another scary movie about evil spirits that came along in the wake of Paranormal Activity, but
Jessabelle is the real deal. The scares are all earned, even the jump scares. It's all thanks to the set up, pacing, and editing, which all help the make the movie seriously creepy and the unsettling shocks really resonate. I've seen it four or five times now and I think it just gets better and better. Call me crazy, but I love this movie!
So, if you like mysterious ghost stories set around the bayou that's truly scary, then check out Jessabelle. Come for the scares. Stay for the Snook!
Fun Fact: Although the film is set in Louisiana, filming took place in Wilmington, North Carolina because an appropriate place for filming couldn't be found.