Chernobyl Diaries

In a deserted town, nobody can hear you scream....

A group of American, British and Nordic students, bored with their travels in Europe, decide to stop in the Ukraine and while there take in some "Extreme tourism", by visiting the city of Chernobyl. Their guide "Uri", manages to bypass the guards at the entrance to the restricted areas, taking the six tourists into the neighbouring deserted town of Pripyat.

Once in the silent town their guide allows the tourists to walk around and take photos, also encountering a rather large and rampant hungry, brown bear, but also very aware that he should not keep them there after dark.

On returning to their van they discover that the starter motor leads have been gnawed away and they are forced to spend the night in the deserted town. When "Uri" is killed by an unknown life form it is up to the group of young tourists to survive against whatever or whoever is left in the town that is meant to contain no living souls. If they can survive the night, and can stay away from reactor four at Chernobyl, they might just make it out alive...

This film basically does what it sets out to do. It makes you jump in places and provides you with a slightly above average thriller. The story has the potential to be really gripping, and keeps the audience well occupied for the first 40 minutes of the film. Sadly it goes downhill after that and fizzles out, except for a nice surprise at the very end.

The film is described as a horror by the production house, but should be classed as a bit more of a soft thriller, with the audience never really feeling truly scared at any point during the film. I wish director Bradley Parker had done more with this script, it was so promising and started off as something really good.

Little known Dimitri Diatchenko moves away from the video games and tv series which have been his bread and butter and makes a very decent visit to the big screen as the "Extreme Tourist guide, Uri". He is convincing and keeps the story going along nicely until meeting an untimely end. It would have been good to have him on screen for a far longer time.

Singer/Songwriter and now actor Jesse McCarntney, does a reasonably good job as "Chris" and might look to take on more challenging roles as he looks to break into the acting world. He does a good job and I look forward to seeing more of this talented young man. Jonathan Sadowski, does fairly well as his wayward older brother "Paul", while Olivia Dudley and Devin Kelley, give decent showings as the rest of the party.

The film doesn't drag, but also doesn't excite, chugging along at a pace that won't keep you on the edge of your seat, but will keep you interested, if not enthralled. Worth a watch, but don't put it top of your list.

5/10