This is a great example of a movie with a strong idea that's poorly executed. What could have been an alternate take on themes comparable to "The Sixth Sense" the storyline instead tumbles into a hollow drama poorly disguised as a Psychological horror. On the plus side Jenn Murray as the disturbed "Dorothy" and Carice Van Houten as her Psychiatrist "Jane" play out their roles to near perfection. I'm from Ireland and I've been looking forward to this film for almost a year now but for me what let it down the most are its gaping plot holes. The most obvious one of these is the fact that the Islanders live in fear of Dorothy and at times she is seen as a freak. So why would you ask this troubled teen to Baby-sit your child knowing what she is capable of. This plot point is what takes Jane to the Island to begin with to investigate a report of child abuse and it's as if the writers failed to notice this weak link in the story. Another gripe of mine is how Ireland is portrayed. There are no Islands around the coast of Ireland where the locals dress like they are stuck in the 1940's or act like characters from "The Wicker Man". I found this to be thoroughly distracting and it certainly brought forth more than a few giggles from the audience I watched it with. It would have been creepier if the Islanders were played straight and saw nothing wrong with exploiting Dorothy for her strange "talent" and were willing to KILL anyone who tried to take her away from them. This would've put Jane in jeopardy and as a result created tension and suspense both of which it is totally lacking in. This is a movie that's more akin to "Agnes of God" than "The Exorcist" as it's been touted. If you enjoyed "Agnes of God" you will probably like this.
Review of Dorothy Mills
