Bad Writing kills Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket
“Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket” (2016) is about a 16-year-old mystery writer who finds herself confronted with the 200-year-old mystery of a dead sailor and his family. Unfortunately, it is a poorly written piece of drivel that looks to claim the place of Nancy Drew. It starts off written as if the person doing the writing was never a writer but was trying to get into the head of one. It should be easy for a writer to know what a writer is thinking, but the script as it’s presented in the film makes it seem like the writer’s own thoughts in real life are a mystery, so mysterious, in fact, that the person writing the story has no idea what to put in place for words that a writer would think.
The film exasperates this poor writing by having Annabelle Hooper voice over her thoughts during scenes when she is alone. Has there ever been a film where a voice over was a good thing? This unfortunate voice over tendency points out the director’s unwillingness to trust Bailee Madison in the lead role, which is too bad because Madison shows she could convey what the voice over says through her acting ability alone.
There are some good moments in the film: a shot that is reminiscent of “The Watcher in the Woods,” a truly creepy scene which ends with the only bit of well-delivered dialogue in the film, and a first ending that, while not surprising, fits well with what is presented in the film. The book may be a whole lot better. MST3K might be able to have fun with this film, even if it’s no “Manos the Hands of Fate.”
The characters face no stakes or only slightly hinted at danger from two bumbling idiots. Yes, this film is supposed to be for younger children. However, there are plenty of examples of films that are smart enough for adults and smart enough for kids. In the end, stilted conversation, long drawn out cinematography shots with no importance, and poor writing kill “Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket.”
The film exasperates this poor writing by having Annabelle Hooper voice over her thoughts during scenes when she is alone. Has there ever been a film where a voice over was a good thing? This unfortunate voice over tendency points out the director’s unwillingness to trust Bailee Madison in the lead role, which is too bad because Madison shows she could convey what the voice over says through her acting ability alone.
There are some good moments in the film: a shot that is reminiscent of “The Watcher in the Woods,” a truly creepy scene which ends with the only bit of well-delivered dialogue in the film, and a first ending that, while not surprising, fits well with what is presented in the film. The book may be a whole lot better. MST3K might be able to have fun with this film, even if it’s no “Manos the Hands of Fate.”
The characters face no stakes or only slightly hinted at danger from two bumbling idiots. Yes, this film is supposed to be for younger children. However, there are plenty of examples of films that are smart enough for adults and smart enough for kids. In the end, stilted conversation, long drawn out cinematography shots with no importance, and poor writing kill “Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket.”