Some horror filmmakers strive to shape the genre with their own unique visions. The horror landscape offers a wide canvas for creators to manipulate fear and tension artistically. Writer-director-producer James Cullen Bressack is no exception when pursuing his style of glossy, hedonistic horror. Bressack’s *Bethany* presents a nightmarish narrative rooted in familiar creepiness, intriguing enough to be somewhat captivating but routinely atmospheric in its traumatic depiction. Despite this potential, the twenty-something Bressack's cinematic effort feels recycled, saggy and manufactured despite his enthusiasm for supernatural themes. *Bethany* largely adheres to the standard horror formula, and it would have been better if Bressack had dared to deviate from such a predictable format; perhaps then his unsettling spectacle could have benefited from an unpredictable edge. Essentially, *Bethany* is a collection of commonplace horror tropes, including a haunted house, a possessed little girl, strange occurrences in the dark, spousal indifference, and a troubled maternal presence lurking nearby. Bressack’s attempt at weaving these elements together feels disjointed; they come across as cobbled together to tell a rather dull, suspenseful story. The narrative centers on Aaron (played by co-screenwriter Zack Ward), a businessman who decides to relocate to an old house with his wife Claire (Stephanie Estes). The move proves costly as time passes in this chaotic home, which happens to be Claire’s childhood residence. Both Aaron and Claire are struggling, though the script primarily focuses on Claire's turmoil as she is overwhelmed by inescapable memories that deeply affect her psyche. Predictably, the house triggers all sorts of disturbing events and chaos involving young Claire (Anna Harr), shown in flashbacks featuring her troubled mother Susan (Shannon Doherty). The primary antagonist haunting Claire is an imaginary friend named “Bethany”—a spirit seeking her undivided attention. However, Bethany’s presence escalates matters considerably; for example, a swarm of cockroaches emerging from Claire's food seems minor compared to the other unsettling events unfolding. What can Claire do about these recurring hallucinations? More importantly, how can she confront her inner demons and avoid a breakdown marked by insanity and distorted reality? Initially, Claire and Aaron’s psychologist, Dr. Brown (played with refreshing quirkiness by Tom Green), attempts to understand his patient's distress. *Bethany* intends to explore the psychological state of its protagonist, which is an interesting concept on paper. However, Bressack and Ward fail to provide the depth, structure, or creative boundaries needed to fully develop this exploration of a vulnerable woman’s mental capacity. It feels more like a superficial tease than a genuine attempt to examine the dysfunctional dynamics of someone with a troubled past. One becomes indifferent as to whether Claire's ghostly torment is real or simply an exaggerated product of her imagination. The artificiality of Bressack's techniques, along with Estes’s bewildered performance, are evident in the cryptic flashbacks and memories. Other horror films that tackled similar themes—such as Nicolas Pesce’s *The Eyes of My Mother* and Mickey Keating’s *Darling*, both from 2016—were received more favorably by audiences. Surprisingly, *Bethany* features some decent performances, particularly from the supporting cast, including Tom Green as the eccentric psychologist and Shannon Doherty as the problematic mother figure. Audiences have witnessed these kinds of antics countless times before, so there’s nothing distinctive or daring about this gory film to set it apart from a typical thrill ride. It's disappointing that there wasn't more substance behind the household hysteria surrounding a woman on the verge of delusion. *Bethany* (2017) STARRING: Stefanie Estes, Zack Ward, Tom Green, Shannon Doherty, Anna Harr, Keith Jardine Uncork d Entertainment/Brilliant Screen Studios 1 hr. 30 mins. DIRECTOR/WRITER: James Cullen Bressack MPAA Rating: NR Genre: Horror Critic’s rating: ** stars (out of 4 stars) (c) Frank Ochieng (2017)

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