Despite its promising premise, The Castle is ultimately a slog to get through. From the wooden acting and unconvincing dialogue to the bizarre character choices and nonsensical plot twists, this film fails to live up to its potential. Perhaps the biggest problem of all is the weak chemistry between the cast. The actors seem unable to connect with each other or their roles, resulting in a film that feels flat and uninteresting throughout. Despite some occasional flashes of promise here and there, The Castle ultimately falls short as an enjoyable movie-going experience. In short, it’s hard not to feel like you’re watching something that could have been great, if only it had been done better.

Newlyweds, Michael and Catherine, leave on their honeymoon. As they travel through the countryside, we see that the bride’s family isn’t a fan of the groom but before we can learn more, the couple break down. They wander until they come across the aforementioned castle. Finding it unlocked and empty, they make themselves at home. After bathing and changing into clothes found in the wardrobe, it is soon realized that they are not as alone as they thought. And soon it becomes a fight for survival against a trio of masked assailants.

For me, the roughest part of watching this film was the lackluster performances of the actors. Catherine (Rio Notra) and Michael (Arish Sirkissoon) seemed completely disinterested in one another, and their lackluster chemistry made it difficult for me to believe that they had just gotten married. Furthermore, the rest of the cast was similarly bland and uninspired, with few memorable moments or standout performances to hold my attention. Overall, it felt as though none of the actors were giving their best effort, which left me feeling bored and disengaged throughout. In my opinion, this lack of passion is what ultimately made this film such a disappointment.

Though many might consider The Castle to be a lackluster film overall, I actually find that the technical side fares better. While the visuals in the movie are mostly muted and dull, they are still adequate for achieving the effect that the filmmakers were aiming for. Sure, things look drab and dreary throughout most of the movie, but this manages to fit the feel of the film. Additionally, the audio in The Castle is mostly static and understated, but there are a few moments where it becomes noticeably louder and richer in tone.

The Castle is one of those movies that stands out for all the wrong reasons. With its amateurish writing and wooden performances, it’s obvious from the very first scene that this film is going to be a real disappointment. The dialogue is flat and repetitive, and the characters are so thinly written that they almost seem like caricatures rather than real people. And while there may be a few moments here and there that might capture your attention, on the whole this movie is a complete mess. If you’re looking for truly rough filmmaking, then The Castle is definitely worth watching. But if you want something truly exceptional and memorable, then you’re better off avoiding this movie altogether.

4 out of 10