The Apparition is director Todd Lincoln's first foray into feature length motion pictures, having previously only done shorts and music videos. Unfortunately, it shows. The 82 minute film has an interesting premise and promising cast including Tom Felton of all the Harry Potter films.

The film's tagline is “Once you believe, you die”. It begins with footage of a séance filmed in 1973 where the participents are trying to harness the power of a spirit using electricity and brainwaves enhanced by wearing EEG headsets. Right then we see the preposterous science the film purports. Fast forward to modern day where a group of scientists, lead by Felton replicate the experiment and things go awry. We then see one of the scientists Ben with his girlfriend Kelly, who knows nothing about his work. They have just moved into a new house in a nearly deserted neighborhood. They only have one other family in the development with whom Kelly interacts.

In following the tired premise of most horror films these days, things in the house start going wonky. Burn marks mar new counter-tops, fresh plants die and electrical surges make the lights and TV go on and off. One day while Ben is at work, she discovers his hidden trunk of séance related stuff, including a hard drive with video where we see one of the members being dragged off and disappearing. She confronts Ben and asks him to leave, but soon summons him back when she sees an apparition come out of the dryer. They contact Feltons character, who claims that it is not the house that is being haunted, but Ben personally. From here begins the conclusion of the film, starting with a new séance. I don't want to give away the ending, suffice it to say things do not go smoothly.

The acting talent and general premise are good. The films soundtrack is fitting, and the at times frenetic camerawork fit the overall mood well. I think in the future Todd Lincoln may go on to direct great things, but The Apparition is not one of them. I would wait until you can rent it for a dollar at a video kiosk.