Hide and Seek (2005) User Reviews

Come out wherever you are.....

[jotix100 · 6/10 · 12 February 2006]

As a psychological thriller, or a horror film, "Hide and Seek" doesn't break new ground. In fact, once it's over, the viewer feels somehow manipulated by what we have just witnessed. There are, supposedly, four different alternative endings for the movie, but unfortunately, the one being shown, doesn't add anything to what we have already seen.

Although the film has some interesting moments, director John Polson has gone for the Grand Guignol effect. Ari Schlosberg's screen play gives us hints about what to expect, yet, when we realize the mystery at the center of the story, we keep scratching our heads.

Suffice it to say, this film doesn't add anything to Robert DeNiro's brilliant career. Mr. DeNiro's last choices in films puzzle us, as well as his fans because we know he is capable of doing much better. Yet, as shown with this film and "Meet the Parents", and its sequel, "Meet the Fockers", "Analize This", and "Analize That", the actor keeps us wondering about his choices.

Dakota Fanning is a young actress who shows an uncanny sense of how to upstage Mr. DeNiro in most of their scenes together. As Emily, in this film, this girl shows an enormous range in what she is capable of doing. One can see Ms. Fanning growing to be another Jody Foster in later years.

The rest of the cast is completely underused. Amy Irving is only seen in flashbacks, which is a shame since she is a valuable actress. Famke Janssen has a few key scenes. The same goes for Melissa Leo, Elisabeth Shue and Robert John Burke.

The only consolation was it was shown on cable and we felt lucky not having spent the price of admission.

It'll do till something better comes along

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 11 April 2008]

I'm not the greatest figurer out of plot twists, and I didn't figure this one out. If you did, then I can see that there would have been an air of disappointment over that aspect of the film. I didn't so, plot-wise, I had no problem with enjoying the movie.

I thought the ending was fine.

And, as usual, I thought Dakota Fanning was quite remarkable, holding the screen with an assurance well beyond her years (although I find her manner in the "Making of.." documentaries worryingly un-childlike).

I did have some other problems, though.

De Niro's character must have been the worst psychologist in the world, given his complete inability to apply any of his knowledge to dealing with his daughter's problem in any constructive way (and, yes, I know "That's because blah blah blah", but it's still a distraction when you're sitting there watching him to fail utterly to exercise a shred of competence.

I failed to understand some of the child's motivation for her actions and attitudes vis-a-vis Charlie and Dad, especially given the nature of the twist.

Elisabeth Shue and Famke Janssen - nice to see them, even if only briefly.

And De Niro - not your finest hour, Bob. Carry on like this, and Norton and Depp will be fighting over the "Greatest Living Screen Actor" crown, while you watch from the wings.

My score of 7 is a point or two higher than it would otherwise have been, solely on the strength of Dakota Fanning's performance.

I don't care if "experts" see what's bad. It's still creeped me out.

[herrick416 · 7/10 · 20 April 2019]

All these professional film critics. Oye. Gimme a break. Although they may make intellectual sense sometimes losing the point of a movie as escapism misses the enjoyment that could be... why so much dissection. Of course it's no Witness for the Prosecution or The Shining. But it's edge-of-seat creepy and it twists right to the end. Predictable maybe. But it's still engrossing. I'm not an idiot I love 12 Angry Men for a script and a brilliance in acting that runs circles around something like this. Or something like Fatal Attraction I know great from good from good to mediocre. This barely makes it to the last except it's worth the ride. Why analize a roller coaster if it 'works'. This is no masterpiece but it works. Enjoy the creeps!

A classic underachiever.

[JohnDeSando · 26 January 2005]

Maybe Robert De Niro's doctor in Godsend (2004) went to the same medical school of horrors as his Dr. David Callaway in Hide and Seek, this year's De Niro toss away film, from which he deposits his considerable paycheck along with cash from Meet the Fockers. Why he doesn't concentrate his fortune and connections (as Clint Eastwood does) to craft an artful small film that would allow his acting gifts is the only mystery for me from his prolific but arguably spotty career.

Young Emily Callaway (Dakota Fanning) has lost her mother (Amy Irving) to suicide. Psychologist dad moves her to an older, rambling house in the woods in upstate New York to start a new life. Not new are the abundant clichés of the horror film: the suspicious neighbors, whom director John Polson makes as creepy as possible; the questionable sheriff; the doors leading to scares; the mutilated dolls; Emily's imaginary friend, Charlie, who appears to be causing numberless offenses in the house; and knives placed as objects of intrinsic interest; and a vulnerable girl friend, Elizabeth (Elisabeth Shue). I stopped counting, for the film is one extended cliché after another.

The interest for serious filmgoers might be the depiction of the psychological stat after a loss to suicide. Whatever the term might be such as "post-traumatic stress disorder syndrome," the film does a credible job showing how difficult it is for Emily to lead a normal life after the loss of her mother (and for her father as well). While there are echoes of Stephen King (The Shining's "Here's Johnny" comes to mind) and Hitchcock (think shower scene), there is no comparison in quality with those classics. The audience at the preview enjoyed some of the stock shock moments behind the many closed doors. Hide and Seek will titillate horror fans but disappoint discerning film buffs, who look for some believable edge and innovation.

Milton in Paradise Lost expressed the descent from happiness to despair: "Farewell happy fields, Where joy forever dwells: hail, horrors!" Hide and Seek is not a classic horror film; it is a classic underachiever.

Good little suspenseful thriller

[the-movie-guy · 8/10 · 4 February 2005]

After the suicide of his wife (Amy Irving), David Callaway (Robert De Niro) takes his mentally disturbed 9-year-old daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning) to a new home in the country in upstate New York. Instead of getting better, Emily begins to withdraw further, and she announces to her father that she has a new imaginary friend named "Charlie." At first, her father sees Charlie as a way for Emily to express her feelings. Then a series of vicious acts such as menacing writings appearing on the bathroom walls, and other mysterious occurrences start happening around the house. David blames Emily for doing them, but Emily says that Charlie did it. But is Charlie imaginary? You'd have to ask Emily, who is the only one who can see Charlie. Charlie may actually be both real and very dangerous. The movie is well crafted and suspenseful with a great cast. For a thriller, I did jump a few times. The ending was a little disappointing, but not unpredictable. (20th Century Fox, Run time 1:40, Rated R)(8/10)

Creepy little kids.

[cmivie · 4/10 · 16 November 2005]

You know what I don't get? Why is it that creepy little boys or girls seem to always get away with anything? Look, when I see a creepy little kid, I will say that that kid is a creepy little bastard! I call it like I see it. I realize that most kids in the world are not disturbed, but some are, and should you ever come across one, then please save humanity and do all us humans a favor by making sure that said creepy little kid is locked away for life. I realize that creepy little kids have been a staple for horror films, but to suggest that they should never be thought of as criminals is insane. Hollywood loves to portray kids as angels. Like I said, most are, but I think Hollywood needs a reality check.

This leads me to Hide and Seek, a movie that is mediocre even with powerful actors like DeNiro, Fanning and Shue. For some reason, Bobby makes more mediocre films nowadays then he does quality. I realize you have to pay the bills, but come on. DeNiro is one of the best actors ever, and his movie choices lately (Godsend, which is horrible)have sucked. DeNiro should have looked at the script and then decided to burn it after reading the first 3 pages. Either that or he should have demanded a love scene with Elisabeth Shue for extra compensation. Fanning parents saw the $$$$ there little girl would earn, and signed her up real quick. Well, that is my theory, cause she is way better than this garbage.

Fanning plays the "creepy little kid", and DeNiro plays her psychiatrist dad. Mom kills herself in the beginning of the movie, or at least that is what it looks like. Darling daughter becomes depressed and creepy, and daddy decides to move from the city to the country for a new start. Turns out the move is a bad idea, cause (excluding Shue's character) all the residents of this small town that we meet are creepy too. And why is it that small town folk are always creepy? Big cities have there fair share of freaks as well, but for some reason, this movie (along with many others) wants you to believe that small town folks are crazy as hell. Anyways, this movie goes from okay to flat out ridiculous in no time at all, and once the big "surprise" comes at the climax of the film, you feel as if you have seen this movie somewhere before. That is due to the fact that Hide and Seek turns into a rehash of many other films. Sad thing is the fact that Hide and Seek wants to be different........but it isn't.

I'll give Fanning credit. She does play her role well, and it was because of her that I watched this whole thing. This is a dark role for her, and she seems to eat it up. She does have a bright future ahead of her, but she needs to avoid crap like this.

You know its not that bad

[bryanraym · 6/10 · 29 January 2005]

Movie Buffs (snobs) will not be surprised by the stereotypical Hollywood ending, but the movie is not too bad throughout. Dakota Fanning puts on the typical scary little girl show to a above average level, and the cinematic action will make you squirm in your seat a few times. Therefore this movie isn't one that I would say you definitely need to see, but if you have some time to waste its a pretty good time. Also it gets bonus points for being a good date movie. The absolute worst thing about this movie is its lack of humor, though the dark overtones are necessary for a true horror movie there needs to be an element of humor(saving The Exorcist), even the Ring had its moments at the beginning with the two girls in the bedroom, this movie has no humor which makes us feel very little for the characters. This is the major downfall, but its still worth a viewing.

Possibly Passable For One Viewing

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 27 January 2006]

This was okay but nothing special. Frankly, I hate to see a young likable talent like Dakota Fanning play morose, ugly roles like this. Let her be a kid who laughs, has fun and acts like a kid, such as she did in "The Cat In The Hat." Since then, she's playing in rougher and rougher films although "Dreamer" with Kurt Russell, I am told, is a nice film.

Anyway, you know that with her and Robert De Niro, you're going to get some excellent acting. The movie also offers a lot of suspense. While it was not fun seeing a young girl mentally tortured and depressed all the time, it was nice to see De Niro play such a low-key role for most of he film.

I would think, without giving anything away, that one viewing of this film would be enough, even if one likes it. Once you know the ending, well......

If you are not a big fan of either Fanning or De Niro (I am) , I wouldn't even give it one viewing.

Exciting and eerie terror film with a good acting by a great cast

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 30 March 2005]

The pic talks upon a family formed by the psychologist father (Robert De Niro), mother (Amy Irving) and daughter (Dakota Fanning). The mother is dead and the rest family are going at home in the Woods located in upstate New York where happens terrible events . She's seen by a doctor (Famke Janssen) and the daddy meets a girl friend (Elizabeth Shue) .

From start to finish tension , thrills , chills and the suspense are continued . The film plot is warped and the final has an extraordinary surprise . The movie blends mystery, intrigue, horror , thriller, frightening events and a little bit of gore when the murders happen. In spite of developing in interior scenarios and with not many people , it is neither dreary , nor tiring , but entertaining . At the motion picture there is spooky and creepy atmosphere and although is a little slow moving isn't bored because there are amount of scares and shocks. The picture achieved limited success in United States , at Europe obtained more boxoffice than USA. The flick has certain resemblance to ¨The shining¨ written Stephen King , adapted by Stanley Kubrick. Interpretation by Robert De Niro is top-notch likeness to ¨Cape Fear¨. Dakota Fanning , the clever and psychic child is outstanding similar to her role in ¨Man of fire¨. John Ottman music creates strong emotions and the movie was professionally directed by John Polson. The yarn will appeal to suspense and horror fans.

Rating: average but entertaining .

Peek-a-boo , I smell you.

[suspiria10 · 6/10 · 28 January 2005]

Widower David and his daughter Emily leave the big city for the country after the tragic death of the Misses. Due to the fate of her mother Emily is going through a tough patch, one might say she has some issues when weird things like mutilated dolls and dead animals appear. But the clincher is her new found "imaginary" friend Charlie. As Charlie asserts himself more and more, darker things start to happen and we all know what that means.

Not a horrible film but the script is horribly clichéd. I enjoyed myself but not quite the way the filmmakers had in mind. My friend and I traded quips back in forth as if we were at our own MST3K party or something. I noticed many others in the audience doing the same so we weren't alone. DeNiro was solid if a bit restrained. Fanning is a pretty good actress for a ten year old. She held her ground with DeNiro and even bested him several times. Hell she barely blinked for the first 45 minutes of the film. The direction wasn't spectacular, not overly flashy but didn't need to be. The script…ahh the script is where the film skids into a tailspin. A veritable Frankenstein's Monster of plots, devices and red herrings that served other films well but became a tepid pool here.

Disappointing but not a total waste of time if you can forgive its shortcomings.

Dumb de dumb dumb

[petercrooks24 · 26 January 2005]

The set up is kind of fun, then the center of the film gets a little boring, then secrets are revealed and you realize you've been lobotomized by stupidity. Elizabeth Shue's cleavage is the best supporting character in this otherwise teeth grindingly dumb movie.

The movie is about as light an R as you can get. It tiptoed past the PG-13 with a little bit of blood, but I have to wonder if they wanted the PG-13 and were surprised by this rating.

Here's a question: what is the tipping point in DeNiro's career that took his from greatness to these crap dwellings? Even Angel Heart is a masterpiece compared to most of the schlock we've been getting from Bobby during the last DeCade. To the real Robert De Niro: Come out come out wherever you are!

An average horror/thriller flick

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 6/10 · 23 July 2005]

Mr. DeNiro, Bob, my future sugar daddy, the actors of all actors, what has happened? You're still great, but I mean, this was just too average and not in your league at all.

Sorry, I had to get that out. I'm very disappointed, everyone at my work told me that this was a great movie, and I wasn't that excited to tell the truth. These past few years we've released some "big surprise twist ending" movies: The Sixth Sense(good movie), The Others(pretty decent), Signs(Alright), and The Village(bad bad bad!). Now, not that I'm totally upset with this flick, I mean Dakota is becoming a fine actress. We have to admit, she is very talented for her age. She's very believable and cute to watch. But a lot of this movie leads up to nothing and has nothing to be excited or jumpy over. It has a story, but it wasn't delivered right. I mean, this is an A-cast: Robert DeNiro, Elizabeth Shue, and Amy Irving. I guess it just wasn't that interesting to me.

If you enjoy these surprise thrillers, you probably enjoy it. But if you've seen one surprise ending thriller, you've seen them all, right? I should take my own stupid advice.

6/10

It could have been a great thing...

[conspiringKitchenKnife · 6/10 · 29 January 2005]

Ahh.. Hide and seek. I could go on about how the ending was substantially bad, and how it was all quite cliché, but that has been done by many people already. So, I will just say that: 1.Dakota fanning truly put in an amazing appearance, which just might have saved the movie from complete and utter terrible-ness. 2. The plot was pretty good except for the obvious attempts to confuse the audience and keep them guessing about who Charlie was/why the neighbors were so weird /what was up with the real estate agent. Actually, we never did find out about that real estate guy. But anyway... This was a pretty good movie, it had me jump many times.. If it wasn't for the terrible ending,this movie would have been amazing.

Hide and Sleep

[attackofthegiantleeches · 6/10 · 27 March 2005]

Hide And Seek first appears to be a thrilling movie. It starts off really well. DeNiro gives a good performance throughout this film. But sadly it doesn't end with the same thrilling chill it started with. It starts off with a bang but doesn't pay off. It just kinda conks out like my 1975 Chevy Malibu. Not even the gas fumes can get this clunker across the finish line. What started out as a very promising film, turned into the dozens we've all seen just like it. I won't tell anyone to pass it up, but I really wish I had waited for it to be release on cable. This was definitely a one time viewer for me. Once is all I need to learn my lesson. I really wish I had went to Ladder 49 instead.

This is a very well done movie that isn't a classic but is definitely worth a viewing

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 28 February 2022]

Hide and Seek (2005) is a movie I recently watched for the first time in a long time on Hulu. The storyline follows a father and his daughter who decide to move to upstate New York and out of the city after the mother dies. Shortly after arriving at the house the daughter starts acting peculiar. Initially the dad believes it part of an adjustment period but it quickly becomes apparent something else is taking over the daughters world.

This movie is directed by John Polson (Lie to Me) and stars Robert De Niro (Goodfellas), Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds), Famke Janssen (Golden Eye), Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Dylan Baker (Trick r Treat), Amy Irving (Traffic) and Robert John Burke (Thinner).

It's always fun to watch a rare De Niro horror movie. The storyline for this is a bit cliche and seems straightforward then hits you with a great twist at the end. The end really makes the movie. The acting is fantastic, especially by Fanning who kills this performance. Her acting at the dinner scene when she meets Dad's new girlfriend is great. There's a few good jump scenes in this and every scene involving the bath tub is well done. The horror elements are just okay with some splashes of eeriness here and there. The conclusion, as previously referenced, is great and sad at the same time.

Overall this is a very well done movie that isn't a classic but is definitely worth a viewing. I would score this a 7.5-8/10 and recommend seeing it once.

De Nero must have really needed money to act in this.

[clivevarejes · 1/10 · 21 October 2020]

Really, no but really. This has to be one of the most ludicrous movies I have seen. De Nero, why, why, why? Did you really need the money so badly. The problem is, it actually could have been good. What a pity.

A sadly unrealized thriller.

[drosey · 7/10 · 9 August 2005]

Why wasn't the wife's (Amy Irving) suicide explained. She had a devoted husband (Robert Deniro) an adorable daughter (Dakota Fanning). This caused the daughter to retreat psychologically into creating an imaginary friend and terrors only known in a child's mind. The pay per view had the alternate ending after the credits. That made it fun. This young star, Fanning, will be seen much much more as she is hauntingly beautiful as a child and is a hell of an actress already. The cast is great, Elizabeth Shue, and the rest do an admirable job in a somewhat strange film. I on't tell you the ending it is worth seeing and check out the alternate ending. OK so bu the end you know all the answers. I figured this ending out. It was all too predictable. But enjoyable if you leave your brain someplace else.

Top Notch Acting In A Good Suspense-Mystery.

[drownsoda90 · 8/10 · 29 January 2005]

"Hide and Seek" is one of the best horror films I've seen in awhile. It is about a psychologist, David Callaway (Robert DeNiro) whose wife commits suicide, and he decides to move to upstate New York with his daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning), whose personality has severely changed after her mother's death. A family friend/psychologist/co-worker of David, Katherine (Famke Janssen) disagrees with David's decision to move, and thinks that Emily should stay where she is. Then after David and Emily move into their new house, David meets Elizabeth (Elisabeth Shue), who becomes a friend to David and Emily. Then strange things begin to happen - Emily discovers a new imaginary friend, Charlie. And then people start to die.

Robert DeNiro and Dakota Fanning are both brilliant, their performances were extremely real and convincing. Dakota is quite talented for her age, and DeNiro gives another great performance like he always does. Famke Janssen ("Don't Say A Word" and "House on Haunted Hill") also does great, and Elisabeth Shue ("The Karate Kid") is also very good. In fact, the whole cast was great. The whole film was really suspenseful, and it tricks you a lot. The atmosphere was heavy, I loved the whole feeling of the secluded upstate New York small-town, and the large house David and Emily move into.

I liked this movie because it was more psychological rather than chop and slash gore that most horror films use to scare people. "Hide and Seek" has a good, solid story behind it, which is why it is such a good horror film, and the acting is top notch on top of it all. I don't understand everyone's problem with this movie, it was actually quite good. Sure, the ending is a little cliché, but the rest of the movie was good enough on it's own. 8/10.

Hide and seek? How about Secret Window with a daughter?

[juke430 · 5/10 · 31 January 2005]

Did anybody ever see Secret Window? This movie seems a lot like that except for the fact that they threw a little girl into the picture to lead us into thinking this was a different film. Shame on people these days.Maybe we are running out of creative ideas to spend millions of dollars on.All of the actors worked everything out just fine. They earn their pay days as far as I am concerned. I am a bit disturbed with some of the script. It could have covered the appropriate details of why things were happening the way they did.The circumstances that were laid out there in the last fifteen minutes of the movie do NOT convince me of someone suffering from a traumatic incident would flesh out and do more then what they had first intended. A specific character figures out the problem but suffers from a purely psychotic nature...versus the initial acting out in trauma. The director misleads us a bit...Not in the nature where we are left to wonder, whats next? Or who is it? But,pushes the possibility that there is a unique force present. He created it...and it doesn't exist. The very end of this was awful.I guess it insinuates that if we all have been dealt a deal of trauma that we will all become someone else. Shue was absolutely beautiful by the way. It is still worth taking a peek at. It has a slow build.Then it is good for a short period of time. It drops and then maintains a moderate pace up until the resolution.I mean no disrespect. Thanks.

World Class Acting Makes This Movie A Great Thriller.

[BigHardcoreRed · 2 February 2005]

Hide And Seek is about a family of three who have to put their mother/wife's suicide behind them and get on with their lives. The father, David (Robert DeNiro), and daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning), have a rough time getting through it. Emily more so, if only because her father is more concerned for her well being. Emily soon makes a new friend in "Charlie", with who she can confide and play games with. No one really knows what or who Charlie is and that is pretty much the mystery, as you may have guessed from the trailers. I won't give it away here so fear not reading on.

This is your rather typical, paint by the numbers thriller. Typical in the fact that it really brings nothing new to the table. That makes it sound boring but it is really not. In fact, even though I thought I had it all figured out from the beginning, it was still pretty exciting. I did enjoy the story quite a bit but it did have many of the same stereotypes or cliché's you see in most horror/thriller movies. The creepy cat, the lonely house in the middle of nowhere, questionable neighbors and eerie coincidences all contribute to that.

I think what brings this average story to an above average and pretty darn good movie is the great acting by those involved. Of course, I'm talking about world class actor Robert DeNiro and the astonishingly good Dakota Fanning. DeNiro was good enough here to make me forget Godsend and Dakota has you hooked from the beginning. That's quite an accomplishment for an 11 year old. For someone that young to convince me that she was really that scared is amazing, and scarily good. In her short, but what will be unquestionably long, career, she is showing some great range for her age. My recommendation is see it. 8/10

Good one

[baunacholi-86159 · 6/10 · 19 August 2020]

Yes, it's all about the final twist which probably makes u love or hate the movie. I can't judge on dvd alternate endings as it was shown on tv with the well known reveal. Overall I liked hide and seek. There is a good cast and Mrs Leo, Shue and Janssen are supporting the 2 main characters very well. There are a few red herrings and a subtle unsettling atmosphere. Maybe it did not completely take off and reached its fullest potential but it's an entertaining thriller in the classic sense.

Interesting enough

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 21 October 2023]

(2005) Hide And Seek PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR/ SUSPENSE

Unexplained deaths occur with a psychologist father, David Callaway (Robert DeNiro) attempting to move forward after his wife's suicide with his daughter, Emily Callaway (Dakota Fanning) all living under the same roof. And when Emily is alone, she plays with her imaginary friend, Charlie "hide and seek" hence the title. The film solely depends on the acting talents of Fanning and DeNiro to carry this film. All I can say is that I'm glad I saw this film before some people leaked the ending which I can figure out as well, but to see how it got there is interesting.

Unpredictably crappy

[vcdmonger · 1/10 · 4 June 2005]

Initially, this movie seemed OK. Unfortunately, movie makers feel the need that in order for a thriller to be good, they need some sort of twist ending. While that tactic was applied here, it definitely did not work. I was severely disappointed with the ending. I can't believe some people give this 9 out of 10 stars, even after admitting to a crappy ending. Would you give Titanic 9 out of 10 stars if the boat didn't sink? The ending can make or break a movie, and this one needs a full body cast. I suggest before the twist is revealed, you turn off the movie and pretend it ends there, you'll save yourself much disappointment and you can imagine it ended well.

Hide and Weep

[swallowedwhole · 2/10 · 27 February 2005]

I couldn't help but smile through the first 15 minutes of this movie, because I had this feeling I had 'bought' a horror movie and was 'sold' a duck. The only time I jumped in fright was when a cat jumps out of the cupboard with a crescendo of violins and...then...nothing happens. After 45 minutes you will still be waiting for something to happen...after 90 minutes the same...and then shock when you see the credits start to roll. The plot has been done a hundred times and so you are thinking all the way through 'that cant be it!' The part about this movie being terrifying is true in the fact that the great man Robert De Niro actually took a lead role in this flop. It is about a scary as The Village. Remember The Village? Hide and Seek is about as excited as watching carpet pile.

Creepy

[ajaws4ever · 8/10 · 29 October 2006]

Hide and Seek is a really creepy psychological thriller directed by John Polson (Mission: Impossible II, The Sum of Us) and it has one of the most memorable and most shocking/surprising endings ever. Another movie that had that creepy-ending thing was Wes Craven's 'They'. (sorry, no other titles come to mind. but see They, it's extremely scary).

Anyway, Robert DeNiro (Shark Tale, Cape Fear (1991)), for once, did not over-act in this movie. His acting was actually great! And Dakota Fanning just literally blew me away. She is definitely THE BEST young actress that has ever been and that will ever be (I hope I said that phrase right, but if I didn't, I'm sure you know what Ii mean). She did the same thing in War of the Worlds, too. She has a very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare gift of acting. She has such a talent that God gave her. She just passed through the part easily, as if there was nothing too it. Her part as Emily Callaway really creeped me out. She also won an MTV Movie Award for, 'Best Frightened Performance' in this movie. She really seemed actually frightened! Everything else was wonderful in this movie! See Hide and Seek! You won't be disappointed!

Original MPAA rating: R: Frightening Sequences and Violence

My MPAA rating: R: Violence/Terror and Frightening Sequences

My Canadian rating: 14A: Violence, Frigtening Scenes, Mature Theme