After a promising start in the sphere of Indie cinema with semi-alternate spins on Genre, with Daybreakers and Predestination. Michael and Peter Spierig have hit the uncompromising Hollywood wall, as have the likes of Marc Webb and Richard Kelly to name a few, before them. Winchester is a hollow, cliched, and quite frankly dull, entry into The Conjuring-esque-verse of cinema that lacks the originality, or intrigue of the James Wan horror classic. Winchester isn’t a total disaster in-regards to mis-en-scene and iconography. It’s edited with a slow prowess and intensity by editor Matt Villa and production designer Matthew Putland, who both add a wonderfully stoic/gothic atmosphere, that feels chilling, but is unfortunately undone by the sheer amount of tropes and cliches, most of all the incredibly lacklustre and desperate attempts of jumpscares. The Spierig siblings also struggle to utilise a stellar cast in the likes of both Jason Clarke and Helen Mirren, who give lukewarm performances due to disappointing material.
