I'd never heard of this, but the moment I saw the cast I had to make it my bedtime movie and initially I felt happy about my decision. Sadly like most things, that didn't last.

Starring Uma Thurman, Isabelle "Orphan" Fuhrman and AnnaSophia "Bridge to Terabithia" Robb this is a teen horror with a great concept but weak delivery.

It tells the story of a group of "Bad" girls sent off to a mysterious boarding school run by Uma Thurman. There they are taught 4 core lessons, and take to each subject at alarming rates.

Now I have to speak of AnnaSophia Robb, when Bridge to Terabithia (2007) came out I saw big things in the girls future. I predicted that she'd have a great career, she was a solid actress for her age so she'd go far..........right? Well that didn't quite work out, I missed the mark on that one but I stand by her competence and it was nice to see her leading here.

The film looks the part, the setting is fantastic, the cast do a great job and I liked the ideas as they began to unravel but something wasn't quite right. The pacing? The finale? I think it was a concoction of these things and more, ultimately the film is filled with great ideas but the creators didn't know what to do with them.

Down a Dark Hall is an interesting movie and you can do worse with 90 minutes. Sadly like me you might come away thinking it should have been better when the credits roll.

The Good:

Great cast

Solid setting

The Bad:

Doesn't come together very well

Rushed finale

Actually wanted to like 'Down a Dark Hall', and yes there was the intention to judge the film for myself after watching it and even more intention to judge it fairly. Both have always been the case with me when it comes to reviewing a film. The idea was attention-grabbing and have liked AnnaSophia Robb and Uma Thurman in other things, so there was potential.

Potential that was not lived up to very well at all. 'Down a Dark Hall' was not a waste of time but it is a long way from a must watch from personal opinion. Didn't regret watching it and didn't find that my intelligence was insulted, something that cannot be said for some other films seen recently, it just didn't compel let alone unsettle me which is a primary factor as to why 'Down a Dark Hall' as an overall film doesn't work.

Lets start with the good things. 'Down a Dark Hall' started off very well, it does draw one right in, sets things up promisingly and has an eerie vibe. It's a decent looking film, with the setting giving off the right amount of unease and the photography has atmosphere. The music is haunting and not too obvious or intrusive.

Generally the acting was better than average, with the best performances coming from Robb and Victoria Moroles. Both of whom really engage with their roles and try hard, without over-compensating.

The exception regarding to the acting though is Thurman, who comes over as annoying and even for her character she came over as strange. The characters are basically walking clichés with no real development and not enough endearing or interesting traits to make them rootable, there is some silly decision making too later on. The script is an overload of cheese and awkwardness and the direction is at best lethargic.

'Down a Dark Hall's' biggest issue is the story. There is very little tension, suspense or dread, with the scares infrequent and being going-through-the-motions-like and obvious when they appear. It is dull too often despite starting off so well and is very predictable from the excessive over-familiarity of a lot of scenes, while it becomes increasingly far-fetched and confused before crashing down completely in a complete mess of a final third. A final third that was implausible, rushed and borderline incoherent with too much left vague, with an ending that just perplexes and makes one feel annoyed after.

Overall, mediocre. 4/10 Bethany Cox

Troubled teen Kit Gordy (AnnaSophia Robb) is accused of a past incident and sent to a special school with other troubled girls run by Madame Duret (Uma Thurman). It's an old mansion under renovation.

Nothing happens in the first half. It's a little moody but nothing special anyways. Then everything happens in the second half and I'm not sure that I understand it all. It has some elements of a good moody gothic horror but it's not pulled together that well.