MovieChat Forums > The Shrine (2010) Discussion > Spoilers! WHY?????

Spoilers! WHY?????

posted 12 years ago by Yinky
19 replies | jump to latest

Why did the villagers keep this a secret? "A curse, from long ago" (or whatever they said)--why don't they go to the police or some kind of authority or just plain MOVE away from the area? What's in it for them to keep the secret? What do they get out of it? They obviously know what will happen if someone goes into the fog, and they obviously don't want anyone to go into the fog (the guy with the expensive blonde highlights yells at them all scary-like to leave but gives them no explanation why--how about "hey, weird sh*t happens in the fog, stay away!"), so why do they just leave the strangers alone to stumble their way in if they don't want anyone to go in there?

What was the purpose of the fog? To lure outsiders to their doom? So the villagers are cursed, and the curse dictates that they kill anyone that goes into the fog because they'll become possessed...and they don't want anyone to go into the fog...so why not fence in the fog (as others have said) or put a scary guy there with one of those big ole machetes that yells "stay the *beep* away from the fog" in what I have read is some pretty silly Polish dialog?

And if secrecy about the "shrine" is such a BFD, why do they let Marcus go in the end? What is to prevent him from telling the entire flipping world?

Yes, I know it's a horror movie and we're supposed to suspend our belief, but there was too much that was left without explanation. If you're going to bitch at me about this, save your breath. I can and will accept (and love) supernatural elements in a film if they are willing to make it seem plausible (ala The Exorcist), but this left too many unanswered questions.

This movie is perfect for a "100 Things I Learned" thread.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Yinky 11 years ago

So fence the fog in. Duh.

Your argument about freeing Marcus is reasonable. Though I don't agree with "the villagers aren't murderers" so they wouldn't kill Marcus in cold blood. I think they might. People have been killed for less. I'd think they might consider that he would tell and blow everything, so bye-bye Marcus.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] kobrakai1 11 years ago

I'm surprised it never occurred to anyone to maybe...I don't know slap up a fence or something so people couldn't just accidentally stumble upon the statue. Maybe some warning signs that say like danger radioactive waste or something that will ensure that curious people won't just wander in there.
Seems like they would have to kill/exorcise less people this way.

[–] divisionbell-2 11 years ago

A fence wouldn't be bad but radioactive signs could cause attention. It's not like it could be stopped so not drawing attention was probably the best solution. A radioactive sign could bring cause alarms and scientists could be deployed which would be just as bad.

[–] izzy520i 10 years ago

OP I just finished watching this movie less than 1 hour ago. That was the very same thought which came up at the end scene when markus gets the background explanation.

I mean, for how much longer will this carry on? I'm sure the proper authorities can do something about this curse from long ago.

[–] fuzzykids 10 years ago

So who are the proper authorities? I suppose the same division that handles unusually large gorillas, haunted houses and exorcisms. Is that MIB, ghost busters or x-files that handles cursed villagers with bad statues in the fog?

[–] hollyannbartel-112-273887 9 years ago

Haha HA! Exactly. They already had Iceman from X-men there. If he couldn't freeze that statue until it shattered, or something, I don't know who the hell else they could call.

[–] vcpike1230 8 years ago

Haha, except they did not have Iceman, they had his twin brother.

[–] unknown_soul278 10 years ago

Who is Marcus going to tell without ending up in a straitjacket or being charged with a crime himself? Same for the villagers going to the authorities. Everybody moving away is not that simple. When your family has been in the same place for generations that land and house is all you have and you can't sell it if the point is to evacuate the area. There is no simple solution.

[–] Shadowkisss 10 years ago

Exactly. And who would be the "proper authority"? The demon killed the actual "proper authority" (i.e. the main priest guy, or whatever they called him, who knew what had to be done, and could tell who was possessed - they'll have to replace him I guess lol). They can't tell anyone either or they'd all end up in a straightjacket and/or in prison for all the murders (so would Marcus). And I think they are staying because they are the only ones who know about this curse, and they are some kind of "gate keepers", that's why they act so antagonist when they see other people around (they don't want them to become possessed, and then to have to kill them), and that's why they tried to stop them from getting into the woods, etc.

I thought it all made sense (in the context of course lol). And I thought the movie was really good and different, including the interesting twist. And I want to see more movies from them (the director, screenwriter, etc).

[–] Reallusion1 9 years ago

The people of that village are bound and burdened by a duty of keeping people away from the statue and containing those it takes.

[–] KynniKynz 9 years ago

Being that it was a curse on the land they were either bound by it or felt some kind of responsibility to guard it and keep the evil contained (maybe?). At the end of the movie I was like, why not straight up say, "the fog is evil, all hell breaks loose on all who enters!"...that would be more effective, no??

The evil statue was emanating the (also evil) fog---remember the voice (of Sarah) manipulating the main (annoying ass) character towards the statue?..I'd say the fog comes in handy for such things (my opinion, of course).

I don't know about you, but I wanted the guy to live and get away, he was the ONLY likable character for me! So I was glad!

Overall the movie sucked--but the possession scene at the end was creepy enough to make it worth it for me! ?

[–] mel2000 (259) 3 years ago

why not straight up say, "the fog is evil, all hell breaks loose on all who enters!"...that would be more effective, no??

That would only encourage more thrill-seekers to find out for themselves what "all hell breaks loose" really means.

[–] Reallusion1 9 years ago

Because the last thing they wanted to do was draw more attention. A fence screams "hey jump me and see what's inside!" Have it moved? Then you'd have an entire crew of possessed construction workers.

[–] Meats_Of_Evil 9 years ago

My thoughts exactly, also as to the question of why didn't the villagers move away, maybe it was because if people stumbled upon the statue and became possessed it would propagate to the point where demons would roam Poland and eventually the world. The priest and the other guys looked like an ancient cult judging by the swords, crossbow and robes and they've probably been doing the same thing for generations.

Who's to say that they haven't tried to take down the statue? Maybe they did in the past and it came back. The guy at the end said something like "It is a curse from a long time ago." The movie was pretty self explanatory and it wasn't stupid enough to suggest that the people weren't crafty enough to try and resolve problems. Even the american photographer got the group out when they where shut inside the tomb with his trusty knife by lifting the plank off from the door, you don't see that in every horror film.

[–] geordiebianconeri 8 years ago

Now I think of it, it's basically the same plot as The Vines (and no doubt quite a few more) where once you enter the forbidden area you are not allowed to get out into the wider world again, and the evil villagers are actually the protectors (of the rest of the world, basically).

[–] mel2000 (259) 3 years ago

A fence screams "hey jump me and see what's inside!"

Depends entirely on the height of the fence and how well it is fortified.

[–] AceRoccola 8 years ago

A dumb plot for a dumb movie.

Shame, it had potential. But the ending tanked it.