He's Out There follows a mother of two who becomes stranded in a rural cabin with her children when a masked killer begins to stalk them outside.
He's Out There Review
As I've mentioned time and time again, the slasher genre is one that is most prone to becoming stagnant. A person murdering people with a sharp object is the most easily predictable formula from scene to scene than most any other genre. You know when someone is going to die, when they will escape, and when the killer will meet his demise at the hands of the sole survivor.
With this predictability in mind, He's Out There is not special. Nearly every scene is a paint-by-numbers trope. It's such a mundane trudge, that it's hard to even critique the film. It's so run-of-the-mill with few apparent flaws or strengths, that I can't find anything to discuss about it. I hate neapolitan ice cream, but I can go on and on for why that is because it's a distinct flavor. Hating vanilla, all you can say is that you hate vanilla.
There was a clear attempt to make something unique, particularly in the villain. There is a moderate achievement here, trying to develop a history and personality for the killer. And while I've already seen some reviews commending this particular character, I didn't find him all that original at all. Slapping a monologue halfway through and some red string in the woods does not a horror icon make.
Perhaps I'm too harsh. There is a lot worse than this film out there. But that is kind of the point I'm making here. At least worse has something of note that separates it. Sometimes worse is better. It gives my mind something to peruse while the terrible script performed by worse actors unfolds before me. Where as He's Out There is just...there.
Horror Rating System
Horror Qualifier: 8/10
Horror Quality: 4/10
Film Quality: 5/10