130
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #223,322 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★☆☆☆
Very disappointing
Although I was not initially happy with certain storyline adjustments, that isn’t why I’m giving this film 2 stars. I’m giving this film 2 stars (generously) for racing through the entire story without explaining any of the “whys”. The original film left out one big part of the novel: the dynamic between the Creeds & Crandalls (Norma & Judd). Norma was the reason Judd showed Louis the burial ground in the first place. Unfortunately, Norma wasn’t even mentioned in the first film.
This new film leaves out TWO big parts of the story (maybe even a third): Norma AND Judd’s encounter with the Baterman family. This part of the novel was Judd’s emphasis to Louis on why you don’t bury people up there.
Finally, the Rachel & Zelda storyline could’ve been way better. The brief little flashbacks did nothing to show why Rachel was so haunted by her sister (at least Zelda was scary in the first film!) Also, 2019 Judd seems more like a creepy uncle with boundary issues. Fred Gwynn’s Judd in the original was spot on to how he was described in the novel.
Do yourself a favor: stick with the novel or the first film. This adaptation is just terrible in so many ways
