Mjeteconer Just perfect...

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Maleeha Vincent It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

m-pichot Red Sands is a (cheap) remake of a French movie called Djinns. Both remind me of The R Point (without reaching it) : horror/psycho/thriller war moviesIf you have not watched Djinns, then you will like Red Sands or find it OK (that's if you like this sort of horror/psycho/thriller war movies). It is tense, and the scenery makes it tense too. So if you like Red Sands, i strongly recommend you watch Djinns (taking place in the 60's during Algeria War)But if you have watched Djinns fist (like me), you will be disappointed by Red Sands : it is too cheap, the plot is not as developed, not as tense as in Djinns, well in 3 words : not as good.

lost-in-limbo Alex Turner, the director behind the small-scale demonic ghost feature 'Dead Birds', goes once again at the supernatural market (teaming up with 'Dead Birds' writer Sam Barrett), in his second feature with the based horror involving American soldiers encountering something otherworldly in the harsh, bone-dry deserts of Afghanistan (and has there been some Sci-fi presentations using that backdrop in the very terrible 'Monster Ark' and 'Manticore'). It throws up the usual plight that we see themed in these types of genre films in the last decade (Deathwatch, The Bunker and Outpost).In-present day Afghanistan a small unit of American soldiers are positioned at an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere to control a strategic road that the Taliban are using. On their way there, they discover an ancient statue which one of the soldiers use for target practice. Unknowingly to them it unleashes a vengeful Djinn, who decides to take out its fury on them.The main problem with Turner's 'Red Sands' is that it was all build-up, for nothing. Never did it consolidate any interest in the situation, and the characters are truly hard to care for. The basis is not as compelling as it could have been, because everything feels half-baked and inconsistent. From it's supernatural element to the mental breakdown of its characters in a foreign culture. This made the script poorly conceived, as not much depth is taken out and there's plenty of time to do so since is has the soldiers pretty much sitting around. Instead it wants to be vague, but this occasion there's nothing else going on to let that slide. It's not weird, creepy or relentless.Not helping also is the plodding pace and repetitive nature of the actions with the lack of anything really threatening to construct an ounce of suspense, despite there always being a lurking menace (in the Taliban, Djinn or their own sanity's). The jolts when inserted don't have much effect, because of the close proximity (where they do come on later in the film). Disappointing in that aspect because the dusty local colour is atmospherically photographed and there's a genuine feel of place with its isolation and eerie shades. Some moments do create a dreamy, disorientating air and that's when the howling, uneasy music score awakens.Turner's direction is polished in a visual sense, but while he keeps it tight, there's a real empty and lethargic style to it. The unhinged editing with its jaded dream sequences only grated. It's a real step down from 'Dead Birds', because there's nothing remotely creepy here. Sure it's going for psychological scars, where the friction between the soldiers becoming a tool for supernatural force, but the supposed tension feeding off that angle was dull and annoying. The characters are nothing more than your standard fodder. Shane West is the only recognizable face, and remains acceptable and Mercedes Masöhn has a hypnotic presence on screen. The special effects aren't so abundant, but when seen it's weak and clunky. The slipshod Djinn creation is very forgettable.Unexciting, patchy and so-so execution.

lee allington I a hate to brag about my knowledge of horror films but it is huge and this film has completely taken my breath away. I must have seen hundreds of horror films that couldn't compete with anything like this.Basicaly what I am saying is ignore how everyone belittles this film as it's a masterpiece. the acting is unbelievably good, the plot is brilliant, I do admit at times it dragged on for a few minutes but just put yourself in the position of being stranded in the desert with people being slaughtered left right and centre, your friends and your brothers in arms, hell you cannot trust next to nobody. Just watch it love it and be thrilled. Acting-9/10 plot-7/10 end-9/10. love to see a red sands 2.

freddie-24 This movie is about a few soldiers alone in the desert who either kill each other or die mysteriously. The end.This movie lacks the cause then effect that a horror movie needs in order to create tension and suspense. (and interest!) There is absolutely no connection between the incident with the statue and what follows in the movie. None. If you didn't read the press release, you'd never geddit.The continuity of the movie is so bad you can snip it up and watch the scenes in any sequence. The story doesn't develop at all.No new facts come to light as the movie progresses. At the end, we are in the same position as at the beginning, so it's kinda pointless that the director puts the last scene at the beginning.There is no realization, no new understanding, no process of discovery. The only clues are provided by Shane West's dreams - and even then, they are sketchy anecdotes that fade too soon.Mercedes Masohn's role could have been deleted from the movie without losing anything at all.The deleted scenes on the DVD include a longer version of the Goat Herder scene that connects better to the rest of the movie.Maybe I'm just too intelligent to be watching this genre?