The film creates an unsettling mood, and the actors do a solid job, culminating in a passable plot development. It's suitable for renting, but that’s about it. If you focus while watching and enjoy horror films generally, it shouldn't be too difficult to follow. I had hoped for something more frightening, though; the child performers were unsettling. The depiction of empty eye sockets was particularly disturbing. The musical accompaniment also established a palpable feeling of dread and impending doom. Considering this was someone’s debut directing effort, it wasn’t completely terrible. As mentioned earlier, the strong acting performances—particularly those of Isiah Washington and Patrick Fugit—the setting which evokes a distinct Southern period atmosphere, the unsettling music, and the small surprise at the conclusion are what prevent the movie from being truly awful.

Source on TMDB