Anyway, creepiness ensues, building up to the explosive climax. Sadly, it is a climax that doesn't pay off. There are threads and scenes that do not make sense, there is an attempt at drawing it all together, but it is too little too late and it left me with more questions than answers. The questions quickly became unimportant as I found that I really didn't care all that much.
Now, the movie is not a complete loss. As much as the story would want you to believe, there is something worthwhile buried within. The Pang Brothers know how to build suspense visually. This movie has an interesting visual sense. The cameras move through the house purposefully limiting your view. As the kids peered into the darkness and around corners, I found myself straining to see beyond the edges of the screen to see what they saw. The reveals are effectively creepy and the jump scares don't come across as being too cheap. The house, and its location, are very helpful in creating this feeling of isolation, a sense of impending dread with no hope of escape.
It is an interesting dichotomy, weakness of story versus the strength of visual style. If only the two could have come together in a better melange. Kristen Stewart does a decent job of playing the increasingly distressed teen. She is almost strong enough to hold your interest in the narrative, until you realize that it really doesn't gel; then you are left with the visuals to hold your interest. Depending on your point of view, it may or may not be enough.
Bottom line. Frustrating movie, interesting premise that fails to deliver combined with nicely composed images. The idea had so much promise, yet fell apart in the execution. Still, I think the Pang Brothers show promise; they are competent filmmakers who know how to build up the tension. I just hope they succeed better with the The Eye remake.
Mildly Recommended.
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