User reviews

There is very slow buid up. Plus the suspense they want to create that is also not engaging. I need 4 days to compete it !!

Still completed with skipping. There is only violence. No horror or no paranormal activity. You cannot make movie horrific by only using violence. Story is also boring and strange. Can't grip your audience. The actress did well with acting. What's with the well ??? There is better well in "Ring" movie. Here only cutting body parts makes you scare ! No scare also only feel weird. Expected good story but cannot match with even poster also. Only the tent scene is little scary.

When I read the synopsis, I thought:" great, finally a horror that isn't about some group of friends getting killed, or a family moving into a haunted house etc.". Well, sadly it doesn't deliver what it could have been.

The story starts with the main character, a painting restorator, travels to Italy for a (duh!) painting restoration job. Along te way she meets some guys, who are traveling to a different destination but end as prisoners in the same mansion.

Here it already starts to go wrong. The movie immediately descends into torture p0rn the moment those prisoners are shown, which distracts from the supernatural theme and add little to the story. And who is that fat inbred motherf'er walking down below ? Why is he wearing that goofy face paint ? He adds little to the story other than just being the person who carries out some mundane torture scenes.

The so-called well, that the movie is named after, actually plays a little negligible role in the whole scheme of things, and maybe a different title would be appropriate. The ending is a total letdown and anti-climax, with lackluster acting of nearly every character involved except maybe Lauren LaVera, who somewhat manages to carry the whole thing and make the best of it.

It's a shame, because this movie really had potential. Oh well, I'm sure all those low IQ gore hounds that infest the horror fan base will get some enjoyment out of this.

Terrible, in every way. A non-existent film direction, embarrassing dubbing and a stupid script. They try to quote the Italian horror of the 80s but they end up trashy, the soundtrack is ridiculous to say the least and used at the wrong times. The only positive things are the protagonist's acting and the gore scenes. The rest is rubbish unfortunately. We see the passion for the genre but we don't see the talent or any other artistic ambition, this is not the Italian horror we need. Furthermore, it must be underlined that all the influencers who talk about cinema and who have expressed negative opinions and sensible criticisms on the film have been accused of incompetence by the film's official Instagram account. Except the director who accepted them. Shameful, that's not how cinema is made.

Terrible movie! Awful movie, under every single aspect.

Directing is absent.

Photography is bad, with out of focus scenes and sets that looks like a cheesy 70s horror movie. (It's not an homage: it's just done very badly).

Everyone in the theather was laughing hard about the terrible.

Plot is completely nonsense, with many narrative holes and missing explanations.

Special effects are "movie school" level, and there is (in Italian) a ridicule dubbing that give to the movie the effect '90s soap-opera.

Only reason to watch this movie is to have fun with friends.

1 star only because I cannot give 0.

To start with, this was not what I expected. After reading the reviews, I thought this is gonna be another poorly made "amazon prime" special - low budget, made with little talent to fill a time slot. I was surprised.

Firstly - I'm a huge movie fan and a massive indie horror supporter. I'm a filmmaker myself and produce folklore horror films based on Scottish Myths. So a folklore story based in rural Italy is right up my street.

For the first 20 minutes I was unsure, then something clicked and I started really enjoying it. Interesting premise, some creepy moments, well shot, surprisingly well acted, good creature / monster design and yes good gore if that's your thing.

I would definitely give this a go.

It's like lemonade. Little substance.

Were it not for the annoying sickening gore, it would be something to leave on in the background and occasionally glance up at.

With the gore you can't even do that.

Not once does it make you feel horrified, terrified, or thrilled in any way, and it doesn't grip you with intrigue, characters, or plot. You feel calm and occasionally disgusted. If the genre was called "disgust" instead of "horror" it would make sense. This way however, it's just not well made. If you want to watch gore go look at a slaughterhouse.

The cinematography is basic, the acting ok, the audio between irritating and incomprehensible. At one point a character repeatedly calls out for "tony". And i could have sworn it was "charlie"

It got 4 stars, because while it is nauseating and pointless, it isn't actively evil and damaging, and the plot is actually somewhat interesting.

"The Well", is where "Hostel" meets "A Picture of Dorian Grey", and indeed with some old school Italian gore direction, a la Umberto Lenzi. I've been waiting for this one since Stieges 2023 and Zampaglione (Tulpa)'s direction did not disappoint. La Vera (Terrifier 2) carried her "final girl" crown well, though obviously in a more demure manner. The acting by the four prisoners was excellent and the cinematography was top notch. The story was a bit thin but the gore and other visual effects made up for it in spades. Zampaglione truly got right that which Rob Zombie usually buggers up. He even had a family member who could kinda act in the film.

Finally we do have it! I haven't seen a decent one in years. Will surely look for what comes next, hoping for standards like this one, which is honestly unexpected and quite good. Especially the old school filming way, and the homages you can flush out. An Italian top notch quality that keeps you glued to you sit until the end. The acting is also nice, starting from Lauren, basically iconic in her amazing role, involving fight and struggles. A lot! The other characters are pretty well delivered and super disturbing, while what rules the most is the ultra gore in some parts.of the movie. I was about to vomit while the horrible monster was showing all its evilness. In short, it's worth watching.

The well was better than the sum of its parts brought together would have you seen. Lauren lavera coming off her terrifier fame has ventured into a new horror this time playing a character called lisa. Shes on her way to italy to restore a painting in a big mansion on behalf of her father who could not be there. It seems routin at first but the woman she is doing it for seems to have an altier motive. These some gore here and there and the makeup of the creatures we see is very good. There are other characters a group lisa meets that get caught up so its interesting watching the action unfold from their perspective also. Overall the well was well good in fact and I enjoyed for what it was even if some elements fell flat when it was brought all together.

It started promising. Then it got torturous. And long. It was definitely trying for an Argento thing - especially in the music. And with the daughter.

Oh, the daughter. Wow she is an actress beyond her years, that is for sure. I guess her out-of-place maturity plays into the plot resolution. But there is no indication given as to why she has a fully-formed American English accent emanating from her face. But she will be a dramatic force surpassing Asia with chops like that.

So much of the movie is stupid and messy. And the weird epilogue meant something sequelly and genre-shifting I imagine. But it is a lot of a gore, a little forgettable lore and stuff in between.

Save your time and avoid this laughable nonsense.

The trailer looks okay but the movie is so so bad JESUS christ. Italians are really not good at making movies, it's not the 1st time I get burned with Italian movies and after this one never ever again. The acting is bad, the characters have no story about who they are. In the 1st 10 minutes you'll notice the bad acting and 0 story and you're like huh? What? There is some very laughable and silly performances that supposed to scare you. It faild miserably, I had to stop after 40 minutes because I couldn't watch the bad acting and killings based on 0 story why, where, what. None of the characters have common sense a normal person would in their situation. The funniest and most laughable part is the camera going round and round 2 characters having a dialogue which makes you feel dizzy.

As an Italian I am really happy for this film, finally an Italian horror shot well and with extraordinary special effects thanks to my friend Carlo Diamantini, national pride, one of the best make-up artists ever and my fellow countryman who invited me to the preview of this film and also introduced me to the director Federico Zampaglione (who confirms that he has a certain talent when it comes to horror) and a couple of cast members, including Lorenzo Renzi who I had already appreciated in the Amazing TV series "Romanzo Criminale".

About The Well, I can say that we are faced with an exquisitely old school product, with monsters and blood and a very suggestive final scene, Zampaglione has great mastery with the camera and knows the old Italian horror classics, especially Argento and Fulci. As an Italian, horror lover and friend of Diamantini I tell everyone to run to the theater and enjoy this little jewel full of gore and violence!!!

OK, not the best acting but who cares? You don't go into a film like this expecting Oscar worthy performances. It's a good fun, gore fest of a movie. Yes the plot has a thousand holes in it, yes you can see where it's going and often predictable. I've rated this film 5 stars but I would've liked to give it a solid 8 but can't - It was released too late for that. If it came out in the 80s we'd have a real classic on our hands here because you can forgive older films for having pretty corny SFX. You expect that but in today's movie world you just can't get away with holding a spear under your arm trying to make it look like it's stuck in your abdomen. Kudos to the creators though for mostly working with old style gore and effects and very little CGI (which was pretty bad).

It's a very watchable film, have a laugh, let your toes curl and just go with it. Pretend it's an old film and you'll enjoy it. Go into this expecting a masterclass by today's standards and you'll be bitterly disappointed.

Federico Zampaglione's The Well is a chilling exploration of ancient curses and the darkness lurking beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic settings. The Italian filmmaker creates an unnerving atmosphere, layering the film in so much dread, you'll find yourself gripping the armrests in anticipation, even during its pitfalls.

The film follows Lisa Grey, a young art restorer, as she is commissioned to restore a medieval painting in the picturesque Italian village of Sambucci. What begins as a seemingly routine assignment soon unravels into a nightmare. As Lisa delves deeper into the painting's history, she becomes entangled in a web of malevolent forces and terrifying encounters.

Amongst the incredible creature design, one of the film's greatest strengths, lies in its atmospheric storytelling. It's an enchanting, eerie, atmospheric, gothic nightmare that lulls you into a hypnotic state. Zampaglione's direction is astute, creating a palpable sense of dread and unease throughout the film with ease. The haunting score, combined with the film's moody cinematography, immerses the viewer in a world of darkness and decay.

While the film's plot may seem familiar to fans of the horror genre, for the most part, The Well manages to offer a fresh take on the haunted house trope. The film's exploration of ancient curses and the supernatural elements add a layer of complexity that makes it all the more intriguing.

The performances in The Well are generally strong. Lauren LaVera delivers a convincing portrayal of Lisa, a woman caught between the beauty of art and the terrifying secrets it holds. The supporting cast also provides solid performances, adding depth and credibility to the film's characters.

However, The Well is not without its flaws. The pacing can be a little too slow in places, some of the plot developments may feel predictable and slightly underwritten. I personally wanted more lore, and scarier scares. Despite these minor shortcomings, The Well remains a chilling and unsettling cinematic experience. Its masterful direction, strong performances, and exploration of psychological horror make it a standout film in the genre. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it's a well-crafted horror film that deserves to be watched.

The plot is predictable, the characters are cardboard, and the cinematography is dire. It is essentially a story ( imagine the Portrait of Dorian Grey) about eternal youth, and the quest to remain young forever. That's it, in a nutshell, there's no backstory, and the narrative is wafer thin. To the extent that I wondered if the writers of the screenplay were sat in a pub when they wrote this. I can imagine people shouting ideas at one another...we need a ghoul, a henchman, and some a scary painting...come on, try harder!

Essentially, this is all gore, without any resemblance of a feasible or sensible plot. There are no likeable characters. The music is junk, and the special effects are tiresome.

Avoid this, like the plague.

How films like this still get made is beyond me.

It's been so long since I watched a good italian horror and here it is! Cinematography is quite great with its very interesting, beautiful shots. Every single scene is plenty of suspense, discomfort and tension, both in the manor and in the dungeons. Photography is amazing as well, using lights in different effective ways, by changing shades and colors up to the environment involved. Practical effects are absolutely perfect and they look like the ones from the 80's. What a cool choice! The ugly deaths and the characters are all beautifully pictured and the acting is great. Cruelty, gore, evilness and selfishness are served in cold blood with no escape at all!

This was a movie that I learned about through friends going to FrightFest in London. I know that Kate and Duncan, both podcasters that I listen to saw this movie there. Now a selling point here was that this featured Lauren LaVera from the Terrifier series. This movie was on my radar so when I got the chance to see the screener thanks to Erika from Gold Dust PR, it jumped up on my list. Being a 2024 horror release also helped. I've also given this a second watch to see where I sat with it for my end of year list.

Synopsis: a budding art restorer travels to a small Italian village to bring a medieval painting back to its former glory. Little does she know she is placing her life in danger from an evil curse and a monster born of myth and brutal pain.

We start this in 1993. Lisa Gray (LaVera) is on a bus in Italy. Her father was a great restorer of paintings and she grew up learning from him. He has sent her to a remote village to help with the one from the synopsis. Now on this bus ride she meets another group of Americans. They are biologists and have someone to help with what they need. This group consists of Tracy (Taylor Zaudtke), Tony (Gianluigi Calvani) and Madison (Courage Oviawe). They get dropped at the same place and vow to meet up a few days later.

Lisa is waiting for another bus when she learns from Marcus (Jonathan Dylan King) that it is no longer in service. He offers to walk with her to show her where the place is. It just so happens that he works at the pub across the way. She then meets Baroness Emma (Claudia Gerini). She shows her the painting that needs restored. It was damaged by the fireplace below it. Time is short as they need it completed in a couple of weeks. Emma is putting her faith in Lisa, knowing how good her father is.

She goes about her work and soon uncovers the darkness of this painting's subject matter. Emma has a daughter of Giulia (Linda Zampaglione), who is shy. She tries to warn Lisa about what she is doing. There is also the concurrent running story of the group that she met on the bus. They're attacked by Arruda (Lorenzo Renzi) who brings them to Dorka (Melanie Gaydos). She is a strange looking person. Both seem to serve something that lives in the well. There's a much bigger plot going on here with time running short.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the story. Where I want to start is that this doesn't have the deepest story and it also isn't necessarily doing a lot new. What I will say though is that it has elements of things that I'm a fan of, so I roll with what it is giving us. There is a cult of people doing a ritual, a monster that might be harboring secrets and this goes to brutal places.

Now that I've set that up, let me delve into this more. This feels like it is borrowing elements of movies before it and making their own stitched together story. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though. There were just parts that were predictable to me. Thankfully, they weren't major things. It feels like it is borrowing from The House with Laughing Windows in that we are following someone coming to a remote place that has a history to restore a work of art. I do like the fact that Lisa is the daughter of a famous person in this field. Being that he is played by Giovanni Lombardo Radice made me smile as well. Her being an American in a remote village helps with that 'fish out of water' narrative. It is also a solid way to introduce that other group on the bus to the village. We meet them just as Lisa is so it makes sense for the viewer and our character to get to know them.

Then there is the painting that needs to be restored. There is an evil presence to it. Part of that is with the creepy imaginary that Lisa reveals. The other part of it is that she cuts her finger while cleaning one spot, so that almost feels like the first blood sacrifice. The deeper we get into this, the more that you feel there is a dark reason why Emma needs this restored by the date she gives. The pressure is put on Lisa so I like the fact that she just can't leave. She will fail her father and miss out on making this large sum of money. The stakes feel real and build tension.

I'll then shift over to this dungeon where the other group are kept. This is where I wanted just a bit more. I don't understand why Arruda acts the way he does. I'm guessing he's just a mindless zombie-like henchman, but I needed just something more there. Dorka is also creepy looking and there is a bit of backstory that would help this as well. I do like revealing these characters and what is in the well through the painting. There is a classic idea that is incorporated in that I won't spoil. The ritual and eventually that there's a cult here piqued my interest.

Let me then shift over to the acting. LaVera was solid here. The three films with her in it that I've seen have impressed me so far. She has a good look about herself and I believe that she would be this art restorer. There's a strength that she conveys as it goes on while also seeming timid upon arriving that adds something. Gerini is good as this baroness. She gives off that arrogance with her title. She also seems to love her daughter while also having enough annoyance with things that she does. Zampaglione was good as that daughter. King, Renzi, Yassine Fadel, Zaudtke, Calvani and Oviawe were all solid. Gaydos has such a creepy look which is great. I also loved the cameo by Radice. There wasn't a bad performance here.

All that is left then is filmmaking. I'd say that the cinematography was good along with the framing. They capture the feel of the isolated village. Something else is that this is set in 93, which takes away the use of technology. There is also a specific reason for that year that worked. The best part though are the effects. They went practical and they look real. It goes brutal with things that happened. I loved the gore. Then going along with that, I thought the soundtrack fit was needed as did the sound design.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this movie. It has aspects that I love with a cult, ritual and a solid enough mystery. There were things that I guessed, plus it also feels like it is using story elements from other movies. The acting was good. LaVera leads the way with everyone pushing her to where she ends up. This is well-made with the effects leading the way. The cinematography and framing help to hide the seams while also building a good atmosphere. After my second watch, I still think this is a solid film. My rating dropped slightly, but don't avoid this movie do that.

My Rating: 7 out of 10.

The poor acting is embarrassing. Some scenes make zero sense. Why when you get shot with a crossbow somehow you're 4ft off the ground when it was practically at point blank.

The story had a nice concept to it but followed it poorly, sometimes people were screaming and others they didn't scream when they should have. Some scenes just really made no sense.

The ending is also senseless. It didn't follow the pattern of the character from the film at all.

I will never get this time back haha! Luckily we'd had a few drinks and could take the mick out of the film with friends to make it remotely an enjoyable experience.

In this day and age, I can't believe a film this bad could get made. Some truly bad acting, no plot that makes sense. Characters that have no explanation as to who they are. Laughable performances, I've seen better at the London Dungeon.

That's an hour and a half of my life I've just wasted.

Not even so bad it's funny.

Please don't be fooled by the good ratings for this film, I repeat it's bad.

As for the 10 star rating, stating it's a new Italian horror classic, that must have been posted by one of the investors in the film to try and get some of their money back.

If you want watch a film with a well in it watch The ring.

Film Review: The Well

Some films leave an impact, whether good or bad. The Well, an Italian horror film, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. With an extremely low budget, a weak script, and almost no redeeming qualities, this movie is a textbook example of why a strong concept and competent execution are crucial in filmmaking.

From the very first scene, it becomes evident that The Well is neither a thoughtful horror film nor a compelling thriller. Instead, it relies on excessive gore and mindless bloodshed to keep the audience engaged. If you enjoy watching characters being senselessly butchered without any real buildup or story progression, then this might be for you. But for anyone expecting a coherent plot, decent cinematography, or even passable performances, this movie is an utter disappointment.

Story and Script

One of the biggest flaws of The Well is its script-or rather, the lack of it. The story, if you can even call it that, is paper-thin. There is no real plot development, no engaging twists, and certainly no character depth. Instead, the movie jumps from one violent scene to another with little regard for logic or narrative coherence. Even the worst horror films at least try to create tension or build atmosphere, but The Well doesn't bother with such details.

The dialogue is uninspired, often bordering on laughable, making it difficult to take anything seriously. The characters are just there to be victims, and their decisions make no sense, following the worst horror clichés. When the script is this poor, even the best actors would struggle to make something out of it-but sadly, the acting doesn't help either.

Acting and Performances

Bad acting is expected in low-budget horror films, but The Well takes it to another level. The performances are wooden, emotionless, and completely unconvincing. The characters react to life-threatening situations with the same energy as someone reading a shopping list. Even in moments of supposed terror, the actors fail to convey any real fear or urgency.

At times, the acting is so terrible that it feels almost intentional, like an unintentional parody of the horror genre. But given how the rest of the film is put together, it's unlikely that this was meant to be a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek production. It's just bad filmmaking.

Cinematography, Art Direction, and Costume Design

Since this is an Italian film, one might expect at least some quality in terms of art direction, cinematography, or costume design. Unfortunately, The Well disappoints in these aspects too. The visuals are dull, the camera work is sloppy, and the lighting is either too dark to see anything or so flat that it kills any possible mood or atmosphere.

Costumes and set designs are equally unimpressive. The film has no visual identity or aesthetic appeal. Even cheap horror films can sometimes create a memorable setting or a creepy atmosphere, but The Well fails to do even that. It looks cheap, rushed, and uninspired.

Overall Experience

Watching The Well was such a frustrating experience that I ended up fast-forwarding through most of it, simply because I was too tired to bother switching off the TV. That's how little it managed to hold my attention.

There are some horror films that are "so bad they're good," offering unintentional humor or entertainment value. The Well doesn't even have that. It's not funny, it's not scary, and it's certainly not engaging. It's just a pointless, badly made movie that wastes the viewer's time.

Final Verdict

If you enjoy mindless gore with no substance, you might find some enjoyment in The Well. Otherwise, avoid it at all costs. Even a low-budget horror film should at least try to deliver a decent story, some tension, or creative kills. This movie does none of that.

Rating: 0.5/5 - Not even worth hate-watching.