 Mirrors
(Theatrical - 2008)
20th Century Fox / 2008
Directed by Alexandre Aja
Written by Alexandre Aja & Gregory Levasseur
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Amy Smart, Jason
Flemyng, Mary Beth Peil
Review by Jude Felton
Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) is an ex-police detective who
is currently suspended after accidently shooting a fellow
officer. Estranged from his wife, but desperate to get back
with her and his children, he takes up a position as a
security guard at a burnt out department store. Inside the
store everything is ruined, that is except for the many
mirrors inside.
As time goes by he begins to hear strange sounds from
within, and there is something that just isn't right with
those damned mirrors. There seems to be something inside
them that not only affects him, but those around him which
include his wife and children, along with his sister Angela
(Amy Smart). The more he investigates the more apparent it
becomes that whatever forces are at work here want something
from Ben. What secrets does the department store have for
him?
After the phenomenal Haute Tension and superior remake of
The Hills Have Eyes my expectation level was quite high for
Mirrors. Not exceptional high, as I was cautious of another
(loose) remake. But still, Aja has proved himself to be a
very good director and I had hoped that this would continue
with this movie. Alas, this was not to be the case as
Mirrors is a jumbled mess of a movie. Poor acting, a
contrived plot with numerous gaping holes in it and moments
of utter stupidity left me feeling that this wasn't a movie
from the same director. Sure it looks great and there are a
few decent chills accompanied by some wonderfully gory
scenes, there just wasn't enough of the good stuff. Too much
of what happens falls down to pure convenience and the whole
movie is dragged out for far too long. The real shame for me
though was the fact that the final scene was executed
perfectly, and had the rest of the movie been on par with
this I would have been far happier. |
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The fact of the
matter is that Mirrors was bound to disappoint, the best
parts (ending aside) are in the previews and for the most
part it comes across as a head-on car crash involving Asian
Horror and mainstream Hollywood horror. There wasn't the
Gallic flair that I would come to expect from the team of
Aja and Levasseur. Sutherland really didn't nail the part of
Ben Carson at all, resulting in many scenes of him shouting
for no good reason, not to mention the script's incessant
need to throw in the odd "fuck" or "fucking" this, that or
the other, for no other reason than to secure an adult
rating. Elsewhere in the cast Smart and Flemyng are totally
wasted in their roles as Ben's sister and Detective Larry
Byrne respectively. Mirrors looks good, with most effects
and cinematography being well executed, however the plot and
acting let it down severely. Hopefully the duo of Aja and
Levasseur step their game up for their remake (yes, another
one) of Piranha. |
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"One Hell of a
scary movie!" |
| Blurbtastic quotes are
satire and are created for comedic purposes only. They do
not reflect the actual film's review, star rating or
entertainment value. Wildside Cinema does not endorse "quote
whoring." Blurbtastic quotes may not be used without
prior consent from Wildside Cinema. |
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