A New Classic

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2004)

*Slight Spoilers*
I was never a huge fan of the original film. I found it to be quite overlong and because of it, it seemed rather repetitive, especially when it came to the themes of consumerism. All of the reviewers would rave about the character development and how it was a horror film where you actually cared for the fate of the characters. I didn't. We knew next to nothing about them and what we did see made them seem rather generic and one-dimensional. Some of the acting was downright atrocious and the finale was a major letdown. Suffice to say that I didn't have high hopes for the remake, especially in the age of teeny bopper horror flicks starring the latest WB sensations. Thankfully, I was dead wrong about this movie.
Everything about it is top-notch. The casting, the script, the special effects, the characters, everything. When I read that Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, and Jake Weber were the stars, my anticipation grew. They are three terrific actors and I just knew that they wouldn't sign on to star in a truly bad film. This is truly one of those rare horror films where you do care about the characters. We only know them momentarily, but we know enough about them to care. We have the cop (Ving Rhames) who is searching for his missing brother and forms a bond with a stranded gun shop owner to fill that void, the nurse who just lost her husband (Sarah Polley), the loser with three failed marriages behind him and dead children (Jake Weber), and a young pregnant couple who are uncertain about the future of their unborn child. As the film progresses, we learn more and more about these people as they drop hints about their past lives and as they interact and form new relationships. This is what was desperately missing from the original: human relationships.
Jake Weber as Michael knocked it out of the park. He brought his character to life and the scene where he discussed what he was best at was heartbreaking. Utterly fantastic, if I do say so myself. I'd love to see him in more movies, he's quickly become one of my favorites. To anyone who liked him in this flick, check out Wendigo, he's awesome in it.
The action and gore will not let anyone down, they are both spectacular. And just think, none of it is CGI. Never in my wildest dreams could I ever have imagined another good, mainstream horror picture without cheesy computer effects.
The ending itself left a lump in my throat, which is a true testament as to how good this movie is at making you care for these characters.
I hate modern horror, but I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch a smart and honest horror movie. Whether it does become a horror classic in the halls of public opinion is yet to be seen, but it will be one of my favorites for years to come. Absolutely stunning.