FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
AnhartLinkin
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Hayden Kane
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
cjs6547
This movie breathes fresh life in the found-footage genre with some spazzy photography and creative cuts. It builds suspense beautifully - and keeps it there, so that you find yourself holding your breath for more than half the film! It takes a departure from clichéd jumpscares and other horror movie tropes and uses a formula that's not generic so that the final result leaves you unnerved and conscious of the silence of the night. The TRUE objective of a seasoned horror-addict, not those loud BOOs that give you a temporary adrenaline rush.The backstory is a bit weak, and character development lacking. A couple, Scott and Penny, take off from their city life to make a nature documentary. 'Don't you ever feel like leaving it all behind and running to nature?' Scott asks in the beginning, or something of the sort. No, we don't. Scott realizes pretty soon (in the first 5 minutes) that he doesn't either. And not a minute too soon. His exposure to the wilderness leads him and Penny straight to the door of Mr. Jones.Called Mr. Jones by (fans?), this is a guy in a mask and a cape living in isolation and leaving bits of what this movie's characters seem to consider 'art'. Yeah, nobody would consider that art, unless it came with references from an art college, an agent and a 20 dollar entrance fee.Penny is enchanted with what can only be described as creepy tribal tribute effigies, and so they instead make a documentary about Mr. Jones. This is when it gets scary (again, not a moment too soon).While the backstory doesn't hold up too well, my main issue with this movie is in two things: the switching front-to-back camera, and the ending. Other camera-work is simply riveting, but I don't know whose idea it was to turn found-footage into found-footage + cameraman's face. The face shots of a scared Scott lend little or nothing at all of value to the movie.Lastly, yes, the ending. It makes everything (all the nightmares) go away. That sort of dulls the horror. I was disappointed to know that Penny had been right all along and Mr Jones really WAS trying to protect them. It would have been so much fun instead if he was evil and they slowly lose their minds between dream and reality. But that's just my opinion.Definitely worth your time, if only for the scares that really work.
begob
A dreaming couple downsize to the woods, where they enter a nightmare.Huge amount of skill in the storytelling. The opening sequence has lovely dialogue between a couple travelling in a car (the out-of-range phone conundrum is dealt with in seconds), then the editing flicks brilliantly through the exposition.But this doesn't hit the bass note needed for horror. Or, as an earlier reviewer said, it doesn't click and it's hard to tell why. It feels like an exercise in horror, rather than a horror, and I really didn't react to any of the scenes with fear, although there was tension throughout. The writer/director probably prefers original drama, rather than genre - if not he should stick with advertising.It gets back to the problem of treating horror as metaphor. Horror has nothing to do with reality - it is a dreamworld where the bizarre is made literal. So in this case the stolen package has to be the core, has to be explained consistent with the dreamworld. Instead, it's treated as a symbol and we never find out what's inside. This is genre - it's that simple. David Lynch is an exception.So much to admire about this: writing, directing, editing, sound. And the actors were good. But not a good horror.
chrisrcbp
(Warning: some spoilers in second half. Read the first half for a quick look). I feel like this movie is very underrated. I read the many bad (and some good) reviews, became unsure, but gave this movie a shot and I do not regret my decision. You can't look at this movie realistically. I looked at this movie as a myth/urban legend put together as a film and ended up loving it. I will admit it got confusing at times and it had it's moments of "Why would you do that?" but if you pay attention everything makes sense. Truly. In short, this movie is about nightmares and what we do to keep them at bay. It takes a look at the consequences that happen to those who mess with nightmares. Look at the movie like that and you will enjoy it a lot more.More in depth: Mr. Jones is just the nickname given to an unknown man who protects the real world from the dream world. He does so by using these scarecrows, something used often to scare away spirits. It has been used in many cultures throughout history. It's really not hard to understand that. You mess with these wards and you pay the price. That's exactly what happens to the protagonists Penny and Scott. It does get trippy and confusing a little past halfway through but the way I saw it is that as a result of their meddling both of them started to live in their own nightmare, being constantly deceived and tricked by these monsters. They don't know what's real and what's not. That's what a nightmare is like. That's what the two main characters fight through.
Guillermo Bosque
Summary: Mr. Jones is definitely one of the worst found-footage films I've ever seen. 10/100 (F+)I don't want to waste more of my time reviewing this "movie", so I'll go straight to the point. The first minutes of Mr. Jones are quite well done and the main leads are likable. Unfortunately, it falls flat after the second half because it becomes very confusing, the whole plot is difficult to follow, the film turns out dull and uninteresting. This is one of the worst found-footage films I have seen, and I have seen a lot. Seriously, the last 30 minutes are a torture but I gave it a chance because I love found-footage movies, I saw it until the end credits. Sadly I didn't find a payoff.Mr. Jones (the dude, not the film) is terrifying, he is creepy and in some scenes he gave me the creeps, but the worst thing about this flick is how that is the best thing about it. Another issue is that the characters became atrociously stupid in the second half and they started to make brainless decisions. I just read the plot line on IMDb, it's so freaking awesome!, maybe with another director it would have been great. Moving on, the final act is very strange, these dumb characters begin to hallucinate, then they leave the found-footage style and after several minutes of boredom, it finally ends.Mr. Jones ends up being confusing, boring and a disappointment. There are only a couple scenes that I liked, but they don't make any sense. One of these scenes is when the guy goes down to a weird place underground and he finds a dead baby. Anyway, Mr. Jones had potential but it was so boring, tedious and it lacks of character development. I really like the camera work but the characters are dumb and the plot is confusingly strange. In conclusion, Mr. Jones has a few scary moments and good acting, however the film wastes its creepy villain in a confusing, uninteresting tale. (F+)
