Bereavement

Name: Bereavement
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: March 18, 2011
Duration: 143 min

2011

METASCORE

No score yet based on 3 Critics Awaiting 1 more review

tbd

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

See All

7.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

BEREAVEMENT

Movie Details & Credits

Crimson Films | Release Date: March 18, 2011

Summary: Malevolence: Bereavement is the first chapter in the horrific ten year odyssey of Martin Bristol, a 6 year old child, abducted from his backyard swing, and forced to witness the brutal crimes of a deranged madman. If a child is taught only to hate, can their violent actions be considered evil? (Crimson Films)

Director: Stevan Mena

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 143 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

Watch Now

Buy On

Stream On

Metascore

tbd

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Mar 17, 2011

More stylishly filmed than many others of its ilk, but at the end of the day, is just an ordinary slasher film. Read full review

Village Voice Nick Pinkerton

Mar 15, 2011

Bereavement-miraculously as dull as its title-is neither far gone enough to be funny nor well thought-out enough to be disturbing. Read full review

Time Out Joshua Rothkopf

Mar 15, 2011

Queens-born horror specialist Stevan Mena has mastered the slow camera creep and the unusually artful vista-he even composes his own orchestral scores, good ones. But he needs to give up screenwriting, pronto. Put down the laptop, Stevan. Read full review

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

ILHM

Feb 3, 2013

In 1989, a young boy is kidnapped by a local madman and raised to be a soulless killer. When Allison makes the mistake of trying to save him, she becomes trapped in the pair's murderous game! Director Stevan Mena returns with a bloody tale of nature versus nurture that takes us back to theIn 1989, a young boy is kidnapped by a local madman and raised to be a soulless killer. When Allison makes the mistake of trying to save him, she becomes trapped in the pair's murderous game! Director Stevan Mena returns with a bloody tale of nature versus nurture that takes us back to the slaughterhouse in BEREAVEMENT, the highly-anticipated prequel to 2004's hit MALEVOLENCE. Anyone who may have written MALEVOLENCE off as being cheap imitation will have much to consider now. Mena demonstrates all of the same skill and control as he had shown previously, but this time without the obvious references to HALLOWEEN or TEXAS CHAIN SAW that may have lessened the impact for some viewers.

BEREAVEMENT is a much different film than before, focusing far more on the personalities of the characters and the psychosis of the killer. This, again, is no FRIDAY THE 13TH. The people presented on screen are smart, realistic, and rounded individuals. We care for them, and as a result, the tension and suspense soar because we do not want to see them get hurt. Their deaths have meaning. Mena has put together a much stronger cast, with exceptional performances by Michael Biehn, John Savage, and Alexandra Daddario. The biggest praise goes to Spencer List in the role of Martin, however, whose emotionless performance and unflinching expressions capture the essence of the character perfectly. List is never assumed to be evil, he is just blank. The success of BEREAVEMENT lies solely on the believability of this performance, and List excels in the role.

With key cinematography by Marco Cappetta, another thrilling score, and a more intelligent script overall, BEREAVEMENT shows an advancement in style and form for the now-established director. The Masters of Horror will need to scoot over to make room for Stevan Mena at the dinner table. -Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies… Expand