User reviews

I'm not sure how to feel about this movie, mainly because I don't think it belongs in the horror genre. Two long-lost brofriends have a brounion and bro down for a while before Handsome Bro realizes that Beardo Bro is having some kind of mental breakdown. Or is he? Maybe. Or IS he? Yes. Probably. OR IS HE? You get the idea. And it just kind of goes on like that for a while until it eventually ends. I guess it's really a story about friendship? I don't know. But I didn't hate it. And I have to give Handsome Bro props -- not just because he's handsome. That bro is a good dude, man.

"They look like people" is one of those movies that makes you think rather than cringe. Its like a psychological drama/horror. The scariness of this movie can vary from individual to individual due to how they each interpret and think into it. There is great use of atmospheric sounds in this movie, which i personally love. I love the creeping and building sense of dread this movie offers. It is a little daring of the filmmakers to go for such a craved concept, yet on such a tight and low budget. This movie has no gasping or jaw dropping scenes, and there isn't much blood at all, but it still has great body and still feels very full. I couldn't look away the whole time. This movie has the ability to pull you in and not let up until your feeling less boggled by it. The character development was great. We really get to know them. I kept wanting to see how very creepy situations panned out between main characters. You can almost predict the outcome of this movie, but then you second guess yourself, and this happens multiple times throughout the movie. Overall I thought this was a pretty good movie with good acting and a very eerie vibe. I would rate it 6.5 out of 10 stars.

There are many low budget films that simply come off as vanity projects for those involved. Then there are low budget movies that are obvious labors of love, and that make every effort to work with their small budget to achieve something fresh, new and unique. This is definitely one of those films. The premise is simple, if a bit clichéd; A man with low self-esteem helps a friend (who is very sure of himself) during a time of need. The thing is, this friend believes that people are being replaced by monsters, and that a secret war is raging that no one but him is aware of.

The film does a great job in balancing the more outlandish elements of the premise with some very real and entertaining interaction between the two male leads. These men are great at what they do, and their chemistry is wholly evident in the ease in which scenes transition from lighthearted play to tension-filled dread. These two obviously got along during the production of this film, and it clearly shows in the final product (The one aspect in which many of these types of movies fail is not having a chemistry between their actors).

The special effects are sparse but work within the context of the film, and the direction might be simple, but again, I believe the film benefits from it. There are no fancy techniques, no crazy camera work to be found; this is a director working with a very select few talented people, and focusing on their interactions and reactions to the events in the film.

That being said, I am most impressed by the comedic elements, as they not only added a sense of levity to an otherwise somber film, but the actors were so convincing, you could not help by smile at their antics (Sock Wars brought a healthy dose of nostalgia). In the end, the film does what many others do not; it removes ambiguity, and allows the viewer to better understand the message behind the movie without the dreaded, "What was the point of all that?" that plagues many film endings.

Overall, this film is not going to win anyone over, as it does not do anything particularly well enough to garner the "art-house psychological horror" sub-genre any more fans, but to those of us that enjoy these types of movies, it is a welcomed addition. A solid effort all around, and the casting agent should be commended for choosing such a talented and charismatic ensemble.

In terms of flimmaking, I think this is good. It doesn't rely on special effects or crazy action scenes to keep a viewer watching. There's a sense of suspense in every scene portrayed just through the acting. I think the two main characters worked well together, and reflected off each other is a healthy/unhealthy way.

A good movie doesn't need a big budget or fancy locations. It just needs good acting and a well-written story. I'm not so sure about the story here.

I have to admit I spent a lot of the time watching thinking, "WTF is going on?" That can be good but it was a bit too confusing in this film.

It's a psychological drama that dips its toe into psychosis that is just about interesting enough to make you stick with it.

No, it's not a horror movie. It's a psychological drama, and one that's not very well done. It feels like a film from a novice who's trying too hard to be clever while at the same time emotionally deep and not delivering the goods on either because he doesn't yet have the life or professional experience to do so successfully. I found it boring rather than suspenseful and my mind kept wandering. The lint on my living room carpet was more engaging at times. It seems to be an early film from someone who may or may not develop into an interesting filmmaker. It's just too soon to tell from this. But there are a few moments in the film to make one hopeful. On the other hand, if this is a filmmaker who's been around the block a few times, a career re- assessment seems overdue.

I was expecting a horror film but instead stumbled upon a nice psychological thriller. Kudos to the filmmakers and the cast. Well done across the board. Very realistic acting, got to care about all the characters. Had me wondering what I would do in all their situations. Mental illness is difficult to deal with, I know. This handled it with empathy. Again, we'll done!

While this film has an intriguing premise, the pacing and overall writing is slightly bland. Writers tend to believe that realism, has to be boring. I'm not 100% certain what the overall take of this movie was supposed to be but did enjoy the element of trust, with someone you love, through thick and thin. Thought it was a heartwarming display that love & trust can get you through anything. Found it refreshing that a film like this, didn't end in horror (for once). Definitely worth a watch but this is no Spielberg, IMAX experience. It is a very slow indie film, that I recommend you go in with low expectations, for the best experience. Not the greatest film of the year but Perry Blackshear has talent and a promising career (if he's willing to acknowledge his flaws asa filmmaker). 5.8/10.

Directed by Perry Blackshear, "They Look Like People" is a low-budget psychological horror that blurs the lines between reality and paranoia.

The film follows a man who begins to suspect that evil creatures are masquerading as humans, and he enlists the help of an old friend to prepare for an impending battle. As the line between delusion and reality becomes increasingly blurred, the film crafts an atmosphere of dread that relies on psychological tension rather than explicit scares.

"They Look Like People" explores themes of mental illness, friendship, and the fear of the unknown, resulting in a thought-provoking and unsettling viewing experience.

Despite being advertised as such They Look Like People is NOT a horror, let's be very clear on that.

They look Like People though creepy a couple of times is a psychological thriller and not a very good one at that.

It tells the story of two reunited friends, one of whom secretly believes that body snatcher like creatures are taking over the planet and is being consumed by his obsession. He finds himself questioning whether he should try and save his one and only friend or flee.

This is yet another mental illness portrait movie, is dark gritty but doesn't represent sufferers particuly well.

Though I see what they were going for I believe this is a thorough swing and a miss and probably would have been better served as a horror after all.

One for fans of this niche only.

The Good:

Couple of creepy moments

The Bad:

Rather dull

Ambiguous

Questions left unanswered

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Demons have a weakness, it's sulfuric acid! Who knew?!

Is the terribly troubled Wyatt (MacLeod Andrews) a complete nut job or are there really diabolically disguised monsters all about us intending to take over our planet? This is the unusually intriguing and engagingly executed premise driving the indy horror drama "They Look Like People".

Virtual feature flick newcomers Andrews, Evan Dumouchel and Margaret Ying Drake are uniformly superb as the main characters. They're manner of speaking and interaction is entirely innate and natural, when the scenes don't skew toward the SUPERnatural, that is.

This is a consistently compelling story being told here. One that serves to substantiate that we are all psychologically fragile to some degree and in our own way. It is how well we deal with these frailties, or moreover how those who care about us help us contend with our instability, that so often times determines the capacity to not just cope with, but ideally overcome, our individual challenges.

First time full-length film director Perry Blackshear writes and directs along with having a hand in just about everything else there could POSSIBLY be to do in making a movie. I suggest you put him on your radar. If "They Look Like People" is any sort of indication, this is a crazy creative talent we'll be seeing and hearing a lot more from in the years to come.

I liked the idea behind 'They Look Like People'. It reminded me quite a bit of 'The Babadook', a film which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately it felt like a poor man's 'Babadook'. It didn't quite work on the same level that that one did. The mystery element still works, because the film world isn't like the real world. Any film maker can just decide at the drop of the a whether he wants to stick to the laws of the world we live in, or just completely abandon them and do his own thing. So we are never quite sure exactly how much of the mystery in films like this is going to turn out to be true. That's why it works. What doesn't work as well is the tempo and mood of this film. 'The Babadook' managed to be a horror, while also telling its extremely smart story. I'm not sure exactly what genre 'They Look Like People' would fall into though. Probably if I had to pick one I'd say drama. Any old film can fall into the drama category though, and that's where I think this film fails. It doesn't clearly identify itself well enough.

It's a very short film at only 80 minutes, and they pass by quick enough. While there's never really a lot happening, it also never drags. We, the audience, are always on the look out for clues and hints as to what the characters are actually dealing with here, and that keeps things ticking. The final scene is far and away the best the movie has to offer, and is actually extremely well directed. I would've liked another 10-15 minutes on the end to tie up a few loose ends, but it wasn't to be. I think this film could have been more than what it is, but even still it's a pretty watchable experience.

In New York, the shy Christian (Evan Dumouchel) likes his chief Mara (Margaret Ying Drake) but is afraid to invite her to date with him. When he stumbles upon his old friend Wyatt (MacLeod Andrews) that is passing by New York, Christian invites him to stay in his apartment. Christian does not know that Wyatt is a psychotic man that believes that people are turning into evil creatures and the war between humans and these creatures is close. Further, he suspects that Christian is one of these creatures.

"They Look Like People" is an overrated lame and boring low-budget movie. The quantity of good reviews in IMDb is suspicious and most of the reviews might be fake. Time is irreversible and impossible to retrieve; therefore think twice before spending watching to this garbage. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Wyatt firmly believes the world is about to end as knows it, convinced that alien creatures are taking over people's bodies. Wyatt's paranoia is enhanced by a series of phone calls from a woman. Wyatt desperately tries to keep his mate Christian safe.

First off, please don't expect a horror film, it's listed as a horror, but it isn't there are some horror inspired themes, but at no point does it fit into that bracket, I'd loosely put it into the atmospheric thriller bracket.

I am a fan of it, I've seen it a couple of times, and it seems to improve with every viewing, there's so much to spot, and you'll ask yourself, it Wyatt seeing things as they are, or having some sort of breakdown.

Wyatt and Christian's bromance is fun, and the pair share some amusing scenes, and one very tense, dark moment.

It deserves higher acclaim, it may just be a little too weird for some, but it is honestly worth a look, it's well made and well acted, and the stork is a good one.

8/10.

I don't know, that this film would make sense to anyone, who has never been affected by mental illness themselves or in those close to them. It's a very scary and tragic occurrence. Here, the afflicted person is fortunate enough to be loved and supported, which is rare. He is afforded trust, which is very difficult to do, with someone, who is behaving incomprehensibly. I thought, like others from what I'd read, that this was to be an imaginary horror or thriller story. In fact it is a very realistic drama about mental illness, which is character-driven and may be boring to many, if they were looking for fantastical entertainment. Because I am interested in human interactions, their causes and repercussions, I was able to empathize with the characters' dilemmas and found the unravelling of the story suspenseful. It becomes very dark and uncomfortable to watch, but the ending gives hope, that with love darkness can be dispelled.

I am very forgiving of bad movies, even if they are far fetched or whatever, they can still manage to be entertaining. But this one was confusing, slow, weird, boring, and disappointing.

I skimmed the IMDB reviews and thought, okay, "It's going to be a slow burn, it's not about jump scares, it's an indie film, but with a 6 it's gotta be worth it, right?" The only thing scary or remotely psychologically disturbing about this experience was that I didn't turn it off after 15 minutes like my gut told me to. It was the longest 80 minutes I've spent being trudged through a movie all year. This is an art school vanity project by an art school student who may have heard hipster voices at the Brooklyn dive bar where this was conceptualized late one night after one too many telling him to make this movie. The voices were likely drunk friends with cameras. Real voices. Now that's scary.