But when the time comes to depart, Uri finds that the wiring in his van has been mysteriously sabotaged. This is somewhat unfortunate, as it leaves the dodgy docent, as well as those under his care, stranded amid high radiation levels, predatory wild animals and strange, indistinct noises. Oh, and it’s getting dark.
Things go from bad to worse when the embattled ensemble have their first violent brush with an even more sinister source of danger, the nature of which they only gradually come to understand.
In his feature debut, director Brad Parker conjures up the occasional jolt. But unlikely plot elements and largely unsympathetic – and shallow – characters work against audience involvement.
“Chernobyl Diaries” is linked to the “Paranormal Activity” franchise by the presence of Oren Peli, who wrote all three of the films in that series and directed the first of them as well.
Given his participation in this project, for which he penned the script in collaboration with Carey and Shane Van Dyke, its high levels of bloodletting – very much in contrast to the restraint which has consistently characterized the “Paranormal Activity” outings – comes as a disappointing surprise.
Along with the vocabulary issues aforesaid, such messy mayhem marks “Chernobyl Diaries,” like the venue in which it unfolds, a no-go area for all but a few.
The film contains intermittent but intense violence with gore, a few uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language, occasional sexual references and an obscene gesture. The Catholic News Service classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.
