| Review Date: Director: Janusz Kaminski Writer: Pierce Gardner Producers: Meg Ryan and Nina R. Sadowsky Actors: Winona Ryder as Maya Larkin, Ben Chaplin as Peter Kendell, John Hurt |
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I liked this movie because it was able to pull me into its world and make me a believer. Forget BLESS THE CHILD (3/10) and END OF DAYS (5/10), movies featuring name actors hopping around plot holes left and right. Ben Chaplin won me over in this film. He turns out to be the poor chap who is about to be taken over by Satan himself, and as you would expect, he’s quite distraught by the thought. A couple of scenes from this film even managed to stick in my mind, especially one really great scene early on featuring a bathroom which suddenly becomes…well, possessed of sorts. A highly stylized film. I suppose that the story could’ve benefited from a few more “thrilling” moments, and certainly been cut by about ten minutes in the middle, but all in all, this late entry into the satanic world of Hollywood thrillers, generally held my attention. Winona Ryder, I could’ve done without, but kudos to Chaplin for convincing me of the possibility of his dilemma. I look forward to seeing what director Janusz Kaminski will take on next. Not a film that will win over the MTV generation, but definitely a decent creepy thriller that’ll keep you on your toes while cuddled under a blanket, late at night, all by yourself. Far from being a classic, but decent as a stylishly passable concoction.