First their was the darkness, and then it got darker!

Rating: 8/10 (12 June 2008)

The story of John Murdoch is a simple one that I'm sure we can all relate to. You wake up in a bath with no idea who you are only to find a dead woman in your apartment and find out that you are a twisted murderer ...Wait a minute? This isn't relate-able at all! This is the nightmare scenario the hero (Yes Hero!) finds himself in the beginning of the movie, chased by cops and god only knows what else as the world he inhabits seems to close in around him. Unable to decipher who he is and faced with terrifying half memories that don't even seem to relate to him, he spirals blindly through the world searching for answers that no-one has.
There have been many comparisons to the Matrix with this film and while it is true that the matrix is a more polished film that this, there is still much here to be admired, from the realisation of the reality they inhabit to the fantastic claustrophobic set design. The direction gives nothing away until the big reveal which is just amazing. The cast are top drawer with a great turn from Keifer Sutherland and the beautiful Jennifer Connolly in the days she weighed more than 6 stone (mmmm!) but the real star is the Uber-impressive Rufus Sewell, who as the hopelessly confused Murdoch is absolutely magic, this is hands down the best film he has ever done.
The effects in this film, while nothing special compared to the grand, eye-catching effects in the standard Hollywood fare we see these days, are used to great effect to create a chilling atmosphere where nothing is real and everything can be manipulated to be different in the blink of an eye.
It is a shame that this film did not get the recognition it deserved but it's nice to see that IMDb members do tend to know a good film when they see one.
Nuff said.
Em.