Eli - A Movie Review

I don’t think anything in this mansion is going to make me get well. Ghosts wander the halls.

Eli is a 2019 Netflix film about a young boy who has an auto-immune disorder. For the first time in his life, Eli may be cured of his disease with help from Dr. Horn. Strange happenings occur in the mansion, signaling that the entire agreement may not be what it seems.

Eli is a different horror film compared to other films based around its plot-line. It is a well-acted film that I wasn’t expecting. However, writers took a different approach to what seemed was going to be a supernatural film until distributing a strange outcome.

At just ten years old, Charlie Shotwell is the highlight of the film. Because of how his disease makes him reliant, Eli has a strong mind to listen to his own conscious. Shotwell did an excellent job creating this world in which he is trapped. He also acted out being in a great pain so well that I actually felt like I was, too. If there is anyone, Shotwell’s performance made Eli a believable film.

In the roles of Eli’s parents, Kelly Reilly and Max Martini are here to help their ailing son, but they each have varying opinions on the whole crisis. Reilly’s motherly instincts was a standout in her character. Reilly and Shotwell shared some endearing moments together.

I didn’t like some of the choices that Eli’s dad decided on. I also never felt the connection between Eli and his dad. They had some tender moments, but still, it didn’t add much. In my opinion, I feel like Martini’s part could have been better if he were placed in a step-father or boyfriend to the mother type role which could have explained his motivations better.

Lili Taylor was fantastic as Dr. Horn. Taylor is a strong actress and she easily makes audiences feel that something is not right about this whole situation.

Get ready Stranger Things fans, Sadie Sink’s humor as Haley is a great addition to the film. Sink is a natural at comedy. Before I talk about the ending of the film, Haley is mainly in the story to provide exposition to Eli whenever he experiences strange encounters amidst his stay. I wanted to see more of her character unfold.

Eli doesn’t know whether it should be a supernatural, psychological, or a completely different angle that I didn’t see coming. With the ending that filmmakers chose to conclude with, didn’t make much sense. It felt more random. The creepy ghosts in the film felt like a wasted opportunity only to get a jump scare out of audiences.

The writers focused more on the supernatural appeal to the movie, and this twist, rather than paying attention more to characters. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, not even Eli. Outside of this auto-immune disorder which causes him great pain, we don’t get to know him.

If the story didn’t grab your attention, then the design of the house will. The mansion fits a goth-like tone with long ending hallways. Set designers did an outstanding job.

Ciaran Foy’s direction delivered a film that does make one think, considering the twist. However, he could have worked with his actors more to achieve emotion and digging deeper into the character’s personas.

Don’t get me wrong, Eli is entertaining and has a couple of the jump scares that were genuine. If the script was executed better, it would have been more original. If you want to check out Eli, go to Netflix and have a watch. Be warned that there are some disturbing sequences, most specifically that have to do with Eli’s condition.