Movie review: The Pyramid

A team of archaeologists using satellite imaging has found a buried Egyptian pyramid which may be the oldest ever found. Entering the pyramid in a rush, the team quickly realizes it is unlike any pyramid they have seen before.

Ashley Grace (Nora), Denis O'Hare (Holden), James Buckley (Fitzie), Christa Nicola (Sunni), Amir K (Zahir), Faycal Attougui (Corporal Shadid).

The Pyramid begins nicely as a camera crew joins the archaeologists at the pyramid site with plans to join them inside. Racing into the pyramid due to an Egyptian government shake-up, the explorers quickly find it designed to trap something, unlike other pyramids. Searching for a way out, the group realizes there are other creatures inside, and they are hungry. The remainder of the film is a journey of horror, tension, and discovery through to the end, which was quite fitting.

Acting was decent with Grace putting forth a nice lead role performance. O'Hare did okay for the most part but missed the mark on a few scenes. Buckley was enjoyable, as was Nicola, both of which fit the film well. Amir K was enjoyable in a smallish role, as was Attougui. The remainder of the cast was solid.

Camera work, a challenge when trying to present a dark space like a pyramid, was pretty well done. The first-person footage was rough and slightly overused, but fit the theme. Sets and backgrounds were decent and it felt like a pyramid. Or a cave, which it was as well. Action scenes were decent but CGI creature effects were somewhat lacking and obvious, for which we dropped a star. Dialogue was good and moved along well. Sound and soundtrack were reasonably well done.

While The Pyramid is an enjoyable entry-level horror flick, that is all it is. The depth here is shaky, acting decent, and technical work a bit rough at times. Those looking for a mild horror flick should enjoy this one, while those wanting consistency or depth may be disappointed.

Violence and gore are the only things to limit audience age in this one, which should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2014
Reviewed: 11.2.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Action, Adventure

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel