Chernobyl Diaries **

Directed by Bradley Parker. Starring Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Olivia Dudley, Nathan Phillips. Sci-Fi/Horror. 86 mins, 15 Cert.

UK release date 22nd June 2012.

The Creator behind the incredibly successful ‘Paranormal Activities’ is back with something ‘New’ – Hoorahhhh. Yep, ‘Paranormal Activities 4’ is on its way to a cinema near you the back end of this year – but before that Writer/Producer Oren Peli ventures into the radioactive Russian back drop with ‘Chernobyl Diaries’.

A group of American Thrill seekers arrange a trip to the desolate surroundings of Chernobyl nuclear Power Station. Guide ‘Uri’ guarantees the safety of his excited tourists and off they set with a list of ‘Keep Safe’ list of rules.

On attempting to cross the military guarded border the group are told they cannot enter due to a routine check of the area. Determined to fulfil the needs of his clients – Uri crosses via a secret woodland back route.

When inside they discover the dying body of a mutated fish and the empty living quarters for all Chernobyl workers – in theory this is where the fun should begin, but it doesn’t!

Left stranded and separated the group are attacked by creatures living within the supposedly abandoned parameter and quite frankly you find yourself hoping most of the movie the monsters get the annoying little gits.

The only character I had any connection with was Uri and they killed him off 20 minutes into the film (Sorry for the spoiler).

There is one good bit with a ‘Bear’ jumping out, but lasts only 2 seconds and doesn’t help carry the 90 minutes of dullness I had to endure.

Overall this film is incredibly disappointing. When I heard that ‘Oren Peli’ was creating a horror movie around and using the actual back drop of Chernobyl, I was genuinely excited at the prospect.

This film should have been brilliant and could have been the start of a whole bunch of Chernobyl based horror Rip-off’s – but after the first 30 minutes of setting the scene its pretty much one long list of horror clichés that never complete, deliver or scare. Basically this is really lazy storytelling and boring as hell.

My only reason for the 2 star rating is its really well filmed and I enjoyed seeing footage from the Chernobyl back drop. I guess I could have just watched a documentary for that though - for some reason Chernobyl Diaries was the first time I’ve ever seen such footage since the News stories in the 80’s.

Also – just throwing this in. Is it right the American’s making a Horror movie around Russia’s most tragic event in recent years?

I wonder what the Americans would make of a Russian made movie called ‘Zombie Attack on 9/11’.

Aside from my hatred for the Film a certain Mr Alan Jones liked it – So click here to see his review on Radio Times.

Link: http://www.radiotimes.com/film/qc89m/chernobyl-diaries-(2012)