Clydefro - after reading some other comparisons between the film and book, it’s clearly one I’m going to have to read. It sounds as though it could be a particularly unsettling experience. I might add that it’s odd to see the writer of both novel and screenplay coming up with such an uninspired script for the latter, but then who knows what chops and changes were made afterwards? Maybe it’s a story that didn’t translate so easily from page to screen.

Paul - I know you’re right, and that there’s little point in bringing up the tired old debate about American teens (they’ve talken over from Hammer’s British poshos) walking into danger, yet it screamed at me in this case.Though many fine fright flicks have started with exactly this premise, the film seemed to simply shuffle its characters off to the slaughter as quickly as the plot would allow, meaning I guess that you bought your ticket to see some young beautifuls get handed their cards as opposed to getting any degree of character development.

What a shame. There were some good bits that I didn’t mention (as I worked my ranting fingers on the keys). The sunniness that Clydefro brought up was certainly one; the business with the phone was a neat part of the movie and hinted at an undercurrent of black humour that didn’t go anywhere afterwards.