Bag of Lies – Movie Review (2/5)

BAG OF LIES is a new horror movie with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed parts of it a lot but also found it to be too long. Read our full Bag of Lies movie review here!

BAG OF LIES is a new horror movie coming to theaters (limited) before a VOD release a few days later. I think this movie would be fascinating to watch in theaters, but I don’t know that my issues with it can be helped there.

I found it a bit too long and while I enjoyed parts of it immensely, I also disliked other parts. My biggest issue wasn’t with the overall plot or the acting. Instead, I found a bit too much left to my own devices in other ways. Simple things like letting me know how much time had passed would’ve been a great help.

Continue reading our Bag of Lies movie review below. Find it in limited theaters on March 29, 2024, and on VOD from April 2, 2024.

The things you do for love

In this supernatural horror movie, we meet Matt (Patrick Taft), who is desperate to save his dying wife (Brandi Botkin). She is dying from cancer and has decided to stop chemotherapy and all other treatments. They only make her feel worse and have done nothing to improve or help her diagnosis.

However, Matt hears of an ancient relic that has the kind of dark magic that just might help. In a desperate attempt to keep his wife (let’s call this what it is), he decides to use “The Bag”.

For the bag in Bag of Lies to cure his wife, a chilling ritual and strict rules must be followed. Of course, things are off to a bad start, so we know it could all go sideways at any time. It seems that Matt’s sanity is unraveling as his wife gets better. However, a price must be paid and the consequences are terrifying.

In Bag of Lies, the core subject revolves around the things we all do for love. It asks how far you would go for the one you love, but I can’t say it definitively answers the question. Sometimes, “love” can be more selfish than we realize ourselves. Love can also be letting someone go when that is what they need.

Watch Bag of Lies on VOD now!

Bag of Lies was directed by David Andrew James, who also wrote the screenplay. It was co-written by Joe Zappa from a concept by Nick Laughlin. As the editor, we also see David Andrew James, and while I like his style, I would’ve loved to know when we were at any given time.

The ritual with the bag includes a number of days. However, after a while, I realized I had no idea how much time had passed. It could’ve been so powerful to show us when day two took over from day one, and what then happened on day three.

Instead, it felt like so much time was passing, but was it hours or days? I certainly had no idea. This is not a bad movie by any means. It’s just that it could’ve been so much stronger or had a bigger impact with just a few changes. Or just a few additions maybe. The cast makes sure that you’ll be in its grip throughout.

Bag of Lies was released in a limited theatrical run on March 29, 2024, followed by a VOD release on April 2, 2024.

Details

Director: David Andrew James
Writers: David Andrew James, Nick Laughlin, Joe Zappa
Stars: Patrick Taft, Brandi Botkin, John Wells, Madison Pullins, Terry Tocantins