Population 436

Plot

Man enters remote rural town. The people are too friendly. They won't let him (or anyone else) leave because that's what G-d wants.

The Good

Watchability

This is certainly a watchable movie. (+1) When something came up, I even thought about not pausing the movie, so I could see what happened next. (+1) There are no major technical gaffes, and the cinematography is adequate.(+1)

Story Line

Within the context of the main premise (that is, the townsfolk have made some sort of agreement with G-d to survive by keeping the numbers of townfolk to exactly 436), nothing in the story line detracts from the plot. (+1) There are enough additional bits of story (for instance, the family in the basement jail) that add to the horror of what is happening, with very little that sidetracks the plot. Oh, some of it could have been left out, but, with Lovecraftian horror, each additional piece of twisted normality adds to the horror itself. (+1) One interesting aspect of the movie is we are made to sympathize with a major antagonist. (+1/2)

Acting

We can empathize with the protagonist and some of the antagonists through their portrayal. In particular, the "city slicker in the country" comes across particularly well. (+1)

The Bad

There was no need for the partial nude, nor for the "sex in the barn" sequence. If the antagonist has merely seen them have a passionate embrace, it would surely have been enough. (-1) Deaths, except for the hanging are all done offscreen, minimizing the "gore factor."

The Ugly

This is a good movie, that speeds the story line on, and delivers the Lovecraftian horror (rather than just terror or gore).

+5 or +6: Time well spent.