"Discarnate" versus "Pet Graveyard"



Welcome readers and movie lovers to another MoVTie Critic's "Movie Versus". I know I have been away for awhile but with the summer weather and films out there, it can be hard to find time to sit down and write all about them. Yet not too long ago I saw two films with the similar theme of what lies beyond death and felt that these two being so close in plot deserved to go head to head to see who can gain the most Green Mountain Stars (G.M.Stars). So without further to do, let's get started.

First up we have "Discarnate" which follows a scientific group out into the middle of nowhere. Led by a neuroscientist Dr. Andre Mason (Thomas Kretschmann) who lost his son Benny (Jake Vaughn) mysteriously to what he claimed was a monster before being suddenly taken he sought answers and found Maya Sanchez (Nadine Velazquez) and a tea she brews that can allow those to see things beyond the veil of our existence.
Convincing her to experiment with this to seek an answer into how it effects the mind and proof in the afterlife, the two along with members of the team Violette Paich (Bex Taylor-Klaus), Dr. Travis Sherman (Chris Coy), his brother Shane Sherman (Matt Munroe) and their investor Casey Blackbuern (Josh Stewart), they set out to find the answers as to the effects this brew can have on the brain and how it can be used. Yet as the sun sets and testing is underway, it becomes clear that they have crossed a line that wasn't meant to be crossed and unleashed a force of evil that did not wish to been seen. Some would call it a Boogeyman, others like Maya who have come across this thing before call it a Discarnate, a monster that takes victims that can see it and now plans to claim them all.

Next we have "Pet Graveyard". In the midst of Stephen King's remake, we have a similar title with a similar theme, yet in reverse. Lily (Jessica Otoole) is a natural caregiver, she spent much of her time caring for her late mother and now has turned it into a profession. Yet when her brother Jeff (David Cotter) suddenly comes back into her life he has a strange request for her, he wants her to help him and two internet friends Zara (Rita Du Tuccio, credited as Rita Siddiqui) and Francis in an experiment that they call "Brinking" in which they will be suffocated until they are unconscious to allow them to "brink" to the other side to talk to loved ones that they lost and Lily will supply them oxygen to bring them back after three minutes. At first she is very apprehensive about such an idea especially when Jeff will be filming it for his web show, but knowing his guilt for not being there when their mom died, she reluctantly agrees to do it.
At first the experiment seems to be a success, Francis sees his girlfriend who died tragically. Zara sees her brother who died in an accident when they were kids and Jeff is able to reunite with their mom, but after they come back it is as if something followed them. The three describe how their "loved ones" wanted them to stay and are now seeing images of red-eyed hairless cat and a frightening figure that seemed to be lurking in the shadows during their "visit". As they try to shake off the strange vibes, they soon begin to realize that those they loved may not have been who they seemed and that death does not like to be cheated and will do whatever it takes to claim what rightfully belongs to him.

Two frightening tales with the warning not to play with dead things, but only one will claim its prize. "Discarnate" takes on the bold task of reminding us that we as a developing scientific society shouldn't always seek the unknown, especially when it tampers with life and death and anything in between while diving into the folklore of a Boogeyman which can be found in many cultures and go by many names across the world implying that such a thing could exist. With the suspenseful plot along with make-up and computer effects to bring realism and fear to this story, it keeps you hooked all leading to an ending you won't see coming. With a stand out film like this, I feel it deserves four G.M.Stars for its performance.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Pet Graveyard" is not as much of a "rip-off" as you might expect by its closely resembling name to another popular film and the fact that it comes out around the same time as the other's remake. While you won't see any reanimated bodies, you get the same danger as to why man shouldn't play God. Having said that, it did try to be as original as it could be with the living going to the dead rather than the other way around as one might think at first glance. Yet despite being its own story, it was left rathe predictable that what the characters were dealing with was not what they believed and started looking more like a knock off of the Final Destination franchise. The only thing that made this film exciting was watching how each person was getting picked off and the strength of love between two siblings who only had each other left and wouldn't let the other go without a fight. While it's not a total waste to watch, its is mild on the scream-factor and wouldn't impress the hard-core horror fan at all. Therefore I feel that deserves a rating of two and a half G.M.Stars.

⭐⭐½

With that "Discarnate" claims victory in a landslide leaving "Pet Graveyard" in the dust. If you can take anything away from both films is that let the dead rest in peace or you just might find yourself a restless entity looking to take you with them.

"Discarnate" and "Pet Graveyard" are both available at Redbox and where movies are sold/streamed.

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