This movie seems to have been shot with the camera lens stopped down several clicks, with no studio lights, with a cloth over the lens ! It is too dark to see what's going on most of the time. Even watching on a 42" screen with all kinds of settings, I could not get a clear image. Apparently the producers and director thought darkness would compensate for the lack of a proper thought-out story and decent actors. The film was in a big bunch of DVDs I bought for a bargain price, so it cost me only a few pennies, thank goodness. It did waste my time and annoy me, but I can rise above that. NOT recommended in any way, except to persons needed a sleep-help! I cannot think of any praise for it.

***Very Mild Spoilers***The mildly serviceable acting and the mediocre characterization in the first third of the film is the only reason, I have given this 2 stars. Otherwise, it would be totally irredeemable. It's one of the darkest movies I have ever seen. Not in tone, but actual lighting. It's impossible to see about half of this movie. I applaud their efforts for realistic lighting, but all it truly accomplished was making this movie incredibly hard to see.It's your typical home invasion style thriller. And, when I say typical, you have probably seen every trope this movie will throw at you before. Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of Haneke's Funny Games. I think for all of the intelligent criticism leveled at the audience, the director and studios are miraculously spared. Even though, they are the ones profiteering from violent and exploitative cinema. I bring this up, because to be honest, Torment is a caricature of Funny Games. It lacks the wit or genuine suspense. And, though I loathed Funny Games, it garnered a strong emotional response from me. This movie made me feel nothing. Not even Nihilism. Literally, nothing.The first third is okay, and the characterization is subtle, often that it works in explaining who these people are. It's also daytime and a rare point of high visibility in the film. We have the semi-typical dysfunctional family unit. And, I actually bought that. Over time, it devolves quickly, once horror is injected.Hillbilly sadists invade their home and seemingly abduct the son of the two protagonists. We're left to wonder if indeed he was abducted or not. Over the course of the movie, we discover to some small extent the motivation behind the psychopathic hillbillies, but barely. Don't expect any satisfying explanations as to their psychopathy, because you will not receive one.The family goes through typical "escaping the killer" scenarios. And without offering too much information, it's essentially what you'd expect. The father is put to some test of his moral fortitude. But, it's pretty laughable. Time and again I thought, Funny Games. Without going bit by bit, if you've seen both films, the way this film blatantly copies numerous scenes in Funny Games is mildly embarrassing. I'm not sure if it's meant as homage. But it just feels like unintended plagiarism. Overall, Tormented is a very weak movie with below sub-par writing that has no intention for a genuine conclusion (sequel!). What we're given about the characters is unimportant and dissatisfying for the most part. While our actual questions are never answered. Don't waste your time with this one. Watch Funny Games. If you're like me, you'll hate it, but at least it will mean something to you. Where, this movie is just a melange of bad horror tropes compiled into a pitch black universe where their concept of psychological terror is veiled cliché.

Suspense becomes horror. Cory Morgan(Robin Dunne)takes the family to the Morgan country home for a peaceful vacation and a chance for his 7 year old son Liam(Peter DaCunha) to bond with his new step-mom Sarah(Katharine Isabelle). The isolated and idyllic location will quickly become a home to store nightmares. The family realizes that someone has been using the house. As they ponder this situation, the unthinkable happens. Liam has disappeared into the woods. Get ready for the holiday from hell! The unwanted house guests reveals themselves as sadistic heathens and the Morgan's will have to fight for their sanity and their lives.Sadistic terror, graphic violence and some sexual situations will more than earn an R rating. Also in the cast of this Canadian fright flick: Stephen McHattie, Amy Forsyth, Noah Danby, Bill Colgate, Inessa Frantowski and Adrienne Wilson.

The Strangers is one of my favorite horror films -- unrelenting tension after the first 15 minutes or so. This film has no tension whatsoever. Just a dysfunctional family being stalked by, well, strangers. I should have gone by the low IMDb user rating and saved my money. Strictly amateur night as far as the filmmaking and way too much time is devoted to how much the kid dislikes his stepmother. A few cuts and this could have actually been a Lifetime Channel movie. Seriously. It barely earns it R rating as most of the horror scenes take place off camera. And the masked strangers are not the least bit frightening whereas they were horrifying and very mysterious in The Strangers. The creeps here wear bunny rabbit costumes, for goodness sake! Bugs Bunny cartoons deliver more thrills than this crap. Plus, you never fear the family is in any real danger from the bunnies. Avoid this one like the plague.