Stick with this one. When you’re questioning the medical validity of the plot–like how the hell can a kid not breathe regular air or use regular water?–trust me, stick with it. All is explained in due time.
Eli (Charlie Shotwell) is a kid who apparently has some severe immunological disease. He has to be in a hazmat suit or in a sterile plastic tent pretty much at all times. His parents have found a doctor in the middle of nowhere, in an old spooky mansion turned completely sterile healthcare facility, that says she can cure Eli of his disorder. Despite the positive encouragement from his parents and the doctor, Eli is skeptical of the facility and the doctor’s promises of a cure. And, it turns out, for good reason.
Eli almost instantly starts seeing ghosts and strange happenings within the house. His parents behave oddly and the nurses treat him like shit and there is this weirdo girl that keeps creeping up to his window at night. Watching it, you feel uneasy but…more than anything, you wonder where the fuck this is going. You suspect things aren’t as simple as they seem, but the true nature of horror taking place is kept well hidden until the final few scenes.
The ending catches you off guard, which is great, so I’m not going to give it away here. But let’s just say things get nice and bloody and you’re truly shocked when all is revealed.
The acting in Eli is superb and the setting sufficiently creeps out the viewer. I look forward to seeing more from director Ciaran Foy, who previously directed Sinister 2.
PC3’s Horror and Exploitation Movie Scale of Awesomeness
Gore – 6
Special Effects – 5
Nudity/Sexuality – 0
Wow Factor – 7
Acting – 8
Fear Factor – 6
Story/Plot/Originality – 8
Cinematography/Atmosphere – 7
Sound/Music – 5
Fun Factor – 5
Eli scored a respectable 57 on the PHEMSA. The first half of the movie does just enough to keep you engaged. By the end, you’re glad you stuck with it. Check Eli out on Netflix.