They

Directed by Robert Harmon, They follows Laura Regan’s Julia Lund as she makes a horrifying discovery related to her childhood battle with night terrors. It’s an intriguing premise that’s employed to erratic yet mostly compelling effect by Harmon, as the filmmaker, armed with Brendan William Hood’s screenplay, delivers a stirring horror effort that kicks off with a tremendously promising opening sequence – with the picture, beyond that point, seguing into an exposition-heavy first half that’s been peppered with a few admittedly creepy interludes. There’s little doubt, as well, that the movie’s mild success is due predominantly to Harmon’s stylish visuals and Regan’s engaging turn as the sympathetic central character, with, in terms of the latter, the actress’ impressively strong work here matched by a better-than-average supporting cast that includes Ethan Embry and Dagmara Dominczyk. And although the picture boasts a handful of stretches that are either ineffective or entirely superfluous, They, saddled with an appropriately (and appreciatively) brisk running time, builds towards a satisfying (and suspenseful) finale that ultimately secures its place as a better-than-average PG-13 creeper.

*** out of ****