Messages Deleted (2009)

Number Rolled: 89

Movie Name/Year: Messages Deleted (2009)

Genre: Horror

Length: 91 minutes

Rating: NR

Director: Rob Cowan

Writer: Larry Cohen

Actors: Matthew Lillard, Deborah Kara Unger, Gina Holden, Serge Houde, Chiara Zanni, Michael Eklund, Xantha Radley, Ken Kramer, Woody Jeffreys, Ildiko Ferenczi, Paul Lazenby, Anna Galvin, Ben Cotton, Olivia Cheng

Joel is a failed screenwriter. To support himself while writing, he works as a professor on the subject. Lacking inspiration, he begins to seek the option of distancing himself from things that might be holding him back. In the process, a slasher storyline falls right at his feet.

Any movie that has Matthew Lillard in a starring role makes me happy. I think he’s an amazing actor and should be used in leading roles more often. I feel like he could play a part written by a dog and still catch my interest. I wasn’t all that impressed with Unger, but the rest of the actors played their roles pretty well.

The movie followed the recipe of being ironically cliché. Much like “Scream,” “Messages Deleted” points out the various clichés used in horror/thriller movies and then tries to bring them into the real world. Ultimately the film claims that these are the clichés we know for a reason: because it most closely resembles real life. It is suggested that, because authors “write what they know,” recipes are developed from true stories being translated into fiction. It’s an interesting perspective. To be honest, the perspective is more interesting than the product.

Even when I take into account the general predictability of the story and the achingly familiar copy & paste plot, I still wind up really enjoying “Messages Deleted.” The irony of what it was doing made me feel more like a student in Joel Brandt’s class, than an audience member. It’s that ability to make me part of the story that really captures my attention.

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.3/5

Overall Opinion – 3.5/5

The Random Rating: R for strong violence

Movie Trailer: