A really nice horror movie

Rating: 7/10 (29 September 2007)

Not exactly a "true masterpiece" but still awesome in all respects. It didn't rely much on "make-up ghosts" and CGI monsters (Uh-oh. Boogeyman comes into mind). It's the kind of movie that makes you want to think about putting yourself into the main character's situation and wondering what you could or would have done. It's a psychological/horror thriller. And the horror part isn't poorly written nor incompetently exaggerated (to the point that it makes you laugh). Both elements just blends together perfectly. Nice work on the part of the writer.
So what else could mess a good movie like this? The actors. I wouldn't say John Cusack is a bad actor. But some scenes with John was just... funny. Just when the movie was picking up pace, suddenly there's this scene that ruins it all. And John's facial expressions during THAT scene made me smile and lose the "built" fear that the first minutes of the film have created. I don't know. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe it's the fact that John Cusack got a little... fatter than the last time I saw him.
As usual, Samuel Jackson is great. At first I was disappointed at how "limited" his role was but after the movie I began to realize that his role was just right. The movie needed someone to kick-start the first parts of the movie. And someone as good as Samuel was just right for the part. But apparently, whenever I see Mr. Jackson, there's only one thing I could think of: "SNAKES ON A PLANE!!! NOOOOO!!!" Seriously, snakes on a plane? Why Mr. Jackson?! Why?! All in all, a pretty good movie with a lot of scares that doesn't rely on cheap startles. Probably the scariest thing about the movie is that it makes you expect something to happen in the next few seconds (i.e. John switching the lights on) then nothing happens and just when you are about to settle down - BOOM - the movie gets you. WATCH IT.