Paranormal Asylum: The Revenge of Typhoid Mary

Paranormal Asylum: The Revenge of Typhoid Mary

Starring Aaron Mathias, Nathan Spiteri, Laura Gilreath, Jenny Mitchell

Directed by Nimrod Zalmanowitz

Synopsis:
Longtime friends Mark (Aaron Mathias) and Andy (Nathan Spiteri) are making a documentary on Typhoid Mary.  With the help of Andy's girlfriend Michelle (Laura Gilreath), they place cameras in an abandoned asylum where Mary was supposedly taken to, and things start going downhill fast.  Mark is chased by ghosts, Michelle gets possessed, and someone human is out to stop their investigation at any cost.  All of which leads to a surprising conclusion with a twist ending that you won't believe - because it's incredibly unbelievable.

Review:
The movie had promise, that's for sure.  An investigation into the mystery that is Typhoid Mary is something intriguing, but unfortunately it becomes a jumbled mess involving soul eating witches, exorcists, trained assassins, old men jumping from roofs, a possessed woman who was never a meat eater who suddenly devours raw meat and no one minds, and two bumbling idiots at the center.

Let's take a look at the main leads.  At the beginning of the film, Mark sees a woman who mysteriously disappears when Andy arrives, yet he doesn't bring it up.  Then he films a ghost of an old woman yelling at him in the camera and ignores it.  He witnesses a guy jump to his death, a man get shot, and his best friend's girl hitting on him, and yet nothing really affects him. 

Andy, who is supposedly in love with Michelle, doesn't mind that she's possessed, dragged across the floor by a spirit, and obviously shows signs of change.  He just decides to let her sleep it off as he embarks with Mark all over the place, leaving her alone.  Just like any doting boyfriend would.

Then there's the story itself.  For 90% of the film, it was making sense and looked like it was leading to a logical conclusion.  Then the last 10% turns into a bad Shyamalan twist that makes no sense and leaves you feeling annoyed for getting involved in the movie in the first place.

Not to mention the fact that a long abandoned asylum still has electricity.  When I'm five minutes late paying my electric bill my house goes as dark as an Amish home.  I doubt someone in the government is still writing checks to keep an abandoned building well-lit.

Summary:
A good promise which leads to a highly disappointing ending.

My Rating: D+