The Pyramid is a horror based on the discovery of an ancient three-sided pyramid buried deep beneath the sand in Egypt. Structurally different to the other pyramids (as they are all four-sided) it stands to be the single greatest archaeological find of this century. Following the events are documentary filmmakers Fitzie and Sunni, who are determined to get the perfect to kick-start their careers. After finding an opening to the pyramid, the archeologists send in a robot to tae samples from inside. When the robot is attacked and sent offline by a stray dog in the pyramid, the small group of archaeologists and filmmakers decide to head in to retrieve it. Once inside, they find the pyramid is not as it first appeared… Well that’s the premise out of the way. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
Uninspiring & annoying
The film lacks any emotional attachment between characters. Nora, played by Ashley Hinshaw, the main protagonist in the adventure, is as uninspiring as she is annoying. The other characters are no better. Her father Holden (Denis O’Hare) blindly follows her advice to go into the pyramid and attempts to play the man who is obsessed and consumed with his work. It is half-hearted at best, with his dull dialogue and dreary, monotone, limp performance only moderately worsening the already poor film.
The one bright spot, yes I can’t believe I am writing this, is James Buckley (Jay from The Inbetweeners for anyone wondering why they know the name). He plays the character with sincerity, and has the only character with any modicum of sense. Fitzie his character is the only one who does not want to go into the pyramid and is the only one that seems to be concerned with getting out. He is a bright spark in an otherwise gloomy film.
Difficult to watch
As expected, the film feels claustrophobic with a lot of the film shot in the alcoves and corridors of the pyramid. The lighting is dim and dark with and torches provide the only light. The film is sometimes shot through a first person camera that Fitzie holds. This is a good idea to build tension and give the audience a sense of the view from the characters, but does not add anything to the film. Unfortunately, as there is little suspense or tension built, when the camera is switched to Fitzie’s it just feels jolty and difficult to watch. The premise of this was good, but it needed a lot more work done to it to add anything to the film.
Overall the film was exactly the sort of horror I want to watch. There was no tension, I felt nothing for the characters, and there was a distinct lack of scenes that make you jump out of your seat. I have most of my fingernails in tact, a rarity for me in horror films, and I was able to sleep the night I watched it. Disappointing throughout I would not go to watch this film under any circumstances.
NB. Credit to the 2 OAPs in the front row watching a horror on a Friday afternoon. Completely blew my mind that you were there.
