Any movie that has to kill a dog to tell us the bad guy is a bad guy really isn't very good.the real problem with this movie is that you figure this whole thing out before the characters do.. and it makes you wonder how dumb the characters are.The plot is that a guy has lived thousands of years cheating death by transferring his consciousness into other bodies. It starts off with stealing the body of John Rhys-Davies, an otherwise good actor who is just collecting a check here. bad sign when your name actor is barely qualifying for "cameos" like a day player.Anyway, a group of six people on a yacht pick up a distress call from JRD, who then proceeds to jump from one body to another, and killing folks for no real good reason. And the dog. because killing a dog always makes your movie more enjoyable.Oh, the ending, the two surviving character decide to steal the bad guy's magic so they can live forever. because obviously, the horrific events of the film didn't get the point across.

Director Chris Graham has created a gem in The Ferryman.Starring John Rhys-Davies who has also been in other classic flicks, Anaconda 3 2008, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King 2003, Lord of the Rings: Two Towers 2002, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring 2001, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 and Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981.Also starring is Tamer Hasan who has also been in other classic flicks, Kick-Ass 2010, The Business 2005, The Football Factory 2004, Bonded by Blood 2010 and Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead 2009.It also stars Nig Heke who has been in other classic flicks, Once Were Warriors 1994 and The Matrix 1999.Also starring Kerry Fox who was also in the classic flick, Shallow Grave 1994.I enjoyed the violence.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic boat flicks, Donkey Punch 2008, Poseidon 2006, Under Siege 1992, Open Water 2: Adrift 2006, Crimson Tide 1995, U-571 2000, Battleship 2012, Black Sea 2014, Extortion 2017 and The Last Voyage 1960.

I decided to knock just two points off this movie simply down to the pointless character depth probing that caused the story to linger needlessly near the beginning.But that's all... as this is one of the best horror movies I have seen in recent years. I have to agree with the previous reviewer, it's refreshing that the characters were people you can care about; some empathy is possible rather than just seeing a load of high school brats being sliced up one by one, as is the usual formula.Here, a few couples on a luxury voyage to Fiji investigate an abandoned boat in response to its distress call following the horrific opening scene. There, they find John Rhys-Davies the sole survivor, sick and weak, and rescue him. Unbeknownst to the crew, their voyage of fun and love is soon coming to an end as they picked up a being that has been escaping death (The Ferryman) for centuries using a mystical dagger that allows him to swap bodies...If you love horror movies, do not miss this roller-coaster ride from the New Zealand movie industry. Horror fans will adore watching the demonic being hopping from one body to another to survive aboard a luxury yacht. The film starts with a violent and gory scene fit for the demanding horror fans out there.John Rhys-Davies, what a catch for the movie! He is outstanding as the Greek rescued by the yacht's crew in response to his distress signal. The basic formula soon unwinds as the not-so-hapless crew is his prey for some great horror scenes offering plenty of ghoulish moments.Echoes of other films will come to mind where demonic possession is concerned. The atmosphere generates the necessary foreboding feeling that draws you into the unfolding chaos and terror of the macabre.Horror fans may have missed this one due to its surprising online reviews that support the contrary on it not being any kind of a masterpiece. But, as a horror movie fanatic, this movie supersedes most of the crappy teen horror movies and awful remakes hitting your screens lately. You will find the movie refreshing after some real dull not-so-scary movies this last couple of years.A must-see...

I have enjoyed limited movie offerings from New Zealand, with the likes of the romantic comedy Sione's Wedding and horror comedy Black Sheep, and for my horror double bill this weekend, I wouldn't have wanted to miss The Ferryman.In western folklore, the Ferryman is the one responsible for transporting the dead to the nether realms, where souls would be judged (so you'd better start chalking up those brownie points). Ferrymen had been depicted in movies before, be they just a background character like in Woody Allen's Scoop, or becoming a point of contention in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with crew of The Flying Dutchman. Think of it as the equivalent to the Chinese folklore characters of "Cow Head" and "Horse Face", where they will visit the body at the point of deaths to escort the soul to the depths of Hell for judgement.2 couples (two of whom are Craig Hall and Amber Sainsbury whom we will get to see again in 30 Days of Night, in which Ben Fransham who plays The Ferryman will also appear) signs up for an adventure sail from New Zealand to Fiji, where a luxurious spa awaits their tired bodies after their "homestay on the sea" stint. Before everyone, including the captain his wife and their pet dog, can get chummy with one another, their ship receives a distress signal, and the laws of the sea dictates they get themselves into unknown trouble by picking up a survivor from a non-working vessel. And like all hitchhiker styled movies, there's always something strange about the hitcher (played by John Rhys-Davis) you pick up, especially when the weather's all foggy and he starts to give everyone the creeps.The Ferryman turned out to be a rather interesting concept movie rather than outright horror with shock and awe moments. It doesn't scare, nor does it follow the recent trends in gore and with torture porn. What it's more akin to is a good old fashioned thriller with supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. Some might complain that nothing much really happens, with the usual hack and slash, but I'd argue that it had a very novel take on the theme of longevity, especially when it starts to play out in full. While it certainly isn't something new, the way it was executed (pardon the pun) mattered, and its ending will undoubtedly leave a wicked smile on your face, at what had transpired, and the loads of potential should you possess such capability.Not without loopholes though, but I thought it could be glossed over given its supernatural slant, unless you choose to harp on it, especially when it didn't get developed properly. In short, The Ferryman still qualifies for an entertaining afternoon matinée when ticket prices are cheaper.