Film review: The Pyramid (15)

The Pyramid (15) review

My expectations weren’t too high ahead of catching horror flick The Pyramid at Boston’s West End Cinema – but it wasn’t quite as bad as I was expecting.

Granted, there is nothing too original about the script and there are no real stand-out performances from the cast.

Yet it did (mostly) keep me interested right through to a pretty cool finale, something other films have failed pretty miserably at this year.

A directorial debut for Gregory Levasseur, this Egypt-based horror was produced by Alexandre Aja (who directed the remake of The Hills Have Eyes).

The plot centres around the idea that an entire new ancient pyramid has been discovered, buried deep in the sands beyond the traditional wonders of Cairo.

Discovered by the father and daughter archaeologist team of Holden (Denis O’Hare) and Nora (Ashley Hinshaw – True Blood), the natives believe The Pyramid to be cursed.

But, despite being warned off entering the discovery by the local authorities, Holden and Nora (of course) cave in to temptation and decide to take a peek inside.

They’re joined by tech geek Zahir (Amir K – Argo), cameraman Fitzie (James Buckley – The Inbetweeners) and reporter Sunni (Christa Nicola – Home and Away), who are keen to document the ‘discovery of the decade’.

But (you guessed it), all isn’t quite as it seems inside The Pyramid, which turns out to be more like a prison than a traditional tomb… and they’re not alone in there.

Maybe it’s because I’m quite interested in Egyptology, but there are some relatively interesting themes explored later in the film’s 89 minute runtime. However, the plot does wander a little too far over to the unbelievable side of storytelling (but hey, what was I expecting?)

At times, The Pyramid reminded me of this year’s As Above, So Below. It messes more with you mentally than being a jump-out-of-your-seat horror, with the setting having a very claustrophobic feel.

I did enjoy seeing Buckley take on a much different role to his well-known stint as Jay from The Inbetweeners, too.

He was pretty solid throughout, as was Hinshaw.

But I’ll level with you, The Pyramid does fall very much into the ‘bang average’ bracket. If you’re after a bit of standard horror, then this should (just about) quench your thirst.

For anyone else, The Pyramid is very much a pre-Christmas appetiser that you’ll probably want to pass on.

Rating: 2.5/5 (watched at West End Cinema, Boston)

Showtimes at West End Cinema, Boston
(December 12 to December 18)

EVENT CINEMA

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (12A)
7.15pm (Tues)

FILMS SHOWING

**THE HOBBIT: BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES (in HFR 3D, 12A)
11am (Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.10pm (daily), 8.15pm (daily)

**THE HOBBIT: BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 2D (12A)
2pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed)

**TINKERBELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE NEVERBEAST (U)
10am (Sat/Sun 2D), 12.10pm, (Sat/Sun 3D), 2.10pm (Sat/Sun 2D), 4pm (not Sat/Sun 2D)

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 3D (U)
10am (Sun), 2.10pm (Sat/Sun), 6.35pm (daily)

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 2D (U)
Noon (Sat/Sun), 4.25pm (daily)

THE PYRAMID (15)
8.45pm (daily)

GET SANTA (U)
1.15pm (Sat/Sun), 4pm (daily)

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 (15)
8.45pm (daily)

PADDINGTON (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), noon (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 4.30pm (daily), 6.40pm (daily), 8.45pm (not Tues)

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 (12A)
2pm (Fri/Wed), 6pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

NATIVITY 3: DUDE WHERE’S MY DONKEY? (U)
3.30pm (Sat/Sun), 6.20pm (not Mon/Tues)

KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10:30am – How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Get Santa (U)

** DENOTES FREE LIST SUSPENDED

Box office: 01205 363634
Web: www.westendcinema.co.uk/SavoyBoston