I've often been extremely critical of PG-13 horror and thriller films. Here's one that adds fuel to that fire, I'm afraid.
The core of this film revolves around John Turturro working as a security guard for a mall. For some reason he sits alone at home watching the security tapes over and over, pauses them occasionally to take pictures of people in them and then he hangs the picture on his wall with a few notes. Presumably, it's because he's hunting for the man who killed his wife. However, he doesn't see a picture of said man or the mystery security tape which shows her murder until after we see him whiling away in front of his television with his digital camera. Eventually, he thinks he's on the right track, and tries to track down old Mr. Wife-Killer.
Here's the breakdown:
The Good:
--The film's set-up is rather slow and weird enough to hold interestbut not for very long.
--The acting is alrightJohn Turturro is pretty creepy.
Didn't Hurt It, Didn't Help:
--There's barely any music.
--Slow pace may build tension for some, but is more likely to bore most people viewing the movie.
--Seemingly linear film.
--OK atmosphere.
The Bad:
--The sets constantly reminded me of Kubrick's "The Shining." You know, because they were bland, yet coated heavy with designs from the seventies. Perhaps I thought that way because of the bland hotel that John Turturro stays in which was designed in the early seventies, and never changedever.
--We see an image of a face pressed through a red plasticy-sheet occasionallybut it's never explained what the face represents. It's either tension, anger, or fear. Who knows?
--Occasional "nightmare-like" cinematography which also contains no explanation. Sure, it looks pretty good, but what the hell does it mean?
--Bland characters.
The Ugly:
--***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** This film meanders for about 100 minutes without going anywhere, getting to know anyone, or explaining anything. Husband hunts for wife's killer and gets revenge. That should've been a very simple movieand very linear. But several points are made to a sub-plot that seemed like it would have been pretty important to the storybut it's never explained!!
--A sub-plot about a cop and his fragile relationship with his wife is also never explainedor properly developed--but it is needlessly touched upon.
Memorable Scene:
--There really wasn't anything very memorable about this movie. An hour and a half of yawn.
Acting: 7/10 Story: 4/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Character Development: 4/10 Special Effects/Make-up: 0/10 (Nothing to note) Nudity/Sexuality: 0/10 Violence/Gore: 2/10 (very little violence, only slow tension) Dialogue: 7/10 Music: 6/10 Direction: 5/10
Cheesiness: 0/10 Crappiness: 5/10
Overall: 4/10
This film offers almost nothing for the viewer to enjoy. It's a terribly slow thriller that goes nowhere and explains nothing. Very bland. Certain movies and directors can get away with doing and showing things that they never explain. But this movie can't. Only for people who are bland or people who really like dull, uninteresting films that explain little or nothing.
www.ResidentHazard.com
The core of this film revolves around John Turturro working as a security guard for a mall. For some reason he sits alone at home watching the security tapes over and over, pauses them occasionally to take pictures of people in them and then he hangs the picture on his wall with a few notes. Presumably, it's because he's hunting for the man who killed his wife. However, he doesn't see a picture of said man or the mystery security tape which shows her murder until after we see him whiling away in front of his television with his digital camera. Eventually, he thinks he's on the right track, and tries to track down old Mr. Wife-Killer.
Here's the breakdown:
The Good:
--The film's set-up is rather slow and weird enough to hold interestbut not for very long.
--The acting is alrightJohn Turturro is pretty creepy.
Didn't Hurt It, Didn't Help:
--There's barely any music.
--Slow pace may build tension for some, but is more likely to bore most people viewing the movie.
--Seemingly linear film.
--OK atmosphere.
The Bad:
--The sets constantly reminded me of Kubrick's "The Shining." You know, because they were bland, yet coated heavy with designs from the seventies. Perhaps I thought that way because of the bland hotel that John Turturro stays in which was designed in the early seventies, and never changedever.
--We see an image of a face pressed through a red plasticy-sheet occasionallybut it's never explained what the face represents. It's either tension, anger, or fear. Who knows?
--Occasional "nightmare-like" cinematography which also contains no explanation. Sure, it looks pretty good, but what the hell does it mean?
--Bland characters.
The Ugly:
--***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** This film meanders for about 100 minutes without going anywhere, getting to know anyone, or explaining anything. Husband hunts for wife's killer and gets revenge. That should've been a very simple movieand very linear. But several points are made to a sub-plot that seemed like it would have been pretty important to the storybut it's never explained!!
--A sub-plot about a cop and his fragile relationship with his wife is also never explainedor properly developed--but it is needlessly touched upon.
Memorable Scene:
--There really wasn't anything very memorable about this movie. An hour and a half of yawn.
Acting: 7/10 Story: 4/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Character Development: 4/10 Special Effects/Make-up: 0/10 (Nothing to note) Nudity/Sexuality: 0/10 Violence/Gore: 2/10 (very little violence, only slow tension) Dialogue: 7/10 Music: 6/10 Direction: 5/10
Cheesiness: 0/10 Crappiness: 5/10
Overall: 4/10
This film offers almost nothing for the viewer to enjoy. It's a terribly slow thriller that goes nowhere and explains nothing. Very bland. Certain movies and directors can get away with doing and showing things that they never explain. But this movie can't. Only for people who are bland or people who really like dull, uninteresting films that explain little or nothing.
www.ResidentHazard.com