Hence, in this joyless comedy, [Eddie Murphy] goes for a hat trick, playing the titular nervous nerd (who vaguely resembles the graceless dork he played in Bowfinger), his own morbidly obese wife Rasputia, and his own Chinese adoptive father, manager of the Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage.

Well, it's almost local. (Winnipegger Rick Skene was the film's stunt co-ordinator.) So the film wins automatic points for transplanting HK terror tropes to the Canadian Prairies. And as long as you don't go in expecting Hostel-level gruesomeness, The Messengers delivers modest slumber-party-appropriate chills.