SPIN THE BOTTLE

US, 2024, 124 minutes, Colour.

Tanner Stine, Kaylee Kaneshiro, Tony Amendola, Ali Larter, Justin Long, Christopher Ammanuel, Ryan Whitney, Hal Cumpston, Angela Halili, Scarlett DeMeo, Carlo Mancasola.

Directed by Gavin Weisen.

The popular game with the possibilities of some risque behaviour, Spin the Bottle, is the occasion here for a horror film.

The first part of the film is set in 1978, a group of young teenagers going to the basement of a house, playing spin the bottle – with, literally, diabolical results.

Then the action comes forward a few decades, a focus on a young man and his mother, she being a survivor of the 1978 episode, now in an institution. The young man wants to get possession of the house and resolve all the mysteries associated.

So, with some loud friends and others, especially a religious girl, go to the house and encounter a number of strange horror experiences.

In fact, the material is fairly familiar and runs according to the expected pattern – although there is Justin Long as the local sheriff, very sceptical about the stories of what is happening.

On the other hand, there is Tony Amendola as the local priest, involved in the first episode, still living in the church, now with revelations about what happened and what could happen.

Then there is a buildup to the expected confrontation with the diabolical figure, and the destruction of the sinister bottle.

1. A blend of horror, supernatural themes, satanic rites, and the popular game, Spin the bottle?
2. The Texas settings, the town, the old house, the interiors, the basement, sinister images? The church, the home of the priest? The sheriff, the countryside? The musical score?
3. The prologue, Texas 1978, the group of youngsters, going to the house, Laura relying and being intimidated, going to the basement, the game, the sinister symbols, the bottle, the fumes appearing, atmosphere, appearance, scene cut short and the explanation in flashback not till later in the film?
4. Present day, Maura, in the Institute, with Cole, her memories, the house, his going to the town, to check on the house, his not knowing the full story?
5. Cole, the drive, arriving, sports, the initial encounter with Kasey, the sports welcome, mocked by Westin and Travis, their comeuppance? Sophie and Mila, eyeing him? The aftermath, going to his house?
6. His settling in, examining the house, the basement? The puzzles, his family name, his grandfather’s reputation?
7. The spin the bottle, the sinister bottle, the apparitions, Mila, with Travis in the room, fleeing, the neighbour, the apparition, screaming, getting out, the lamppost, her death? The visuals of her skeleton?
8. The sheriff, his knowledge of the situation, interviewing Cole, protection of Kasey?
9. Kasey, the attraction to Cole, her father’s strictures? The revelation of the story, Paul and his research, newspapers and photos? The satanic rituals, the grandfather’s reputation, exploiting people, Lorelei as a young bride, the photo with her daughter, Cole’s mother, his sense of responsibility?
10. The interactions with Westin and Travis, clashes, punch ups? Sophie and her interventions, the gatherings, the search for Mila?
11. The further hauntings, the vapours from the bottle, Lorelei and her drawing the breaths from her victims, gradually returning to herself? Kasey and Cole spending the night, her father’s reaction, forbidding her out, her going?
12. Westin in the car, his death? Sophie and the pursuit, her death?
13. The role of Father Harris, in 1978, driving to the house, his concern, looking in the window, seeing the deaths? His role in the present, his memories of what it happened, the fact that they had not been fully revealed, his knowledge of the grandfather and his sinister behaviour, his discussions with Cole, explanations, encouragement for him to confront Lorelei and contain her in the bottle?
14. The buildup to the final confrontation, Lorelei appearing, and Kasey with the bottle, the fire, the confrontation with the Lorelei, the smoke and the bottle, into the fire?
15. The end, the house, Cole and Kasey together, and the camera’s focus on the bottle…?