Bad! Bad! BAAAD! *possible spoilers*

Rating: Null/10 (1 December 2003)

I dont see how everyone could have rated this movie as high as it is. As far as im concerned its probably the most cliched, mindless thriller i think ive ever seen.
Admittedly i really did enjoy the first 10 minutes or so. The 'cut' sequences were great. Actually the direction of the whole film wasnt bad at all, my commendations to James Mangold. After the kid moves back in the car scene, i thought the whole movie was going to be something really great. Unfortunately the rest of the movie did nothing but displease....
And theres nothing easier to blame for this than the script. You get the feeling that Michael Cooney (whos last film was Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman) wrote it straight from beginning to end. It has a strong sense of momentum, but is horribly haphazardly meshed togeather in the end. It gives us every murder mystery cliche you could ever think of (psychotic ward scene, 'mass-murderer' suspect, indian burial ground, a house it is impossible to escape from till morning, a series of numbers along with everone who gets killed, etc.), but none add anything to the film. They are there for their own sake, and the film suffers as a consequence. Many many plot holes are brought out through the film (admittedly somewhat smoothed over by the sudden revelation that that the film is really told from the psycho killers perspective, not reality), and the terrible, unbelievable ending does nothing to fix them up, but just asks more questions.....
The acting was something else i could gripe about, not only from the 'unknowns' (the guy who plays the murderer brought in by the police is a standout), but also from people you expect more from (step forward Cusack and Liotta). I didnt believe anyone in their roles as 'realistic' characters, or even less as what they would be 'envisioned by the killer'.... but thats more debatable....
I often feel that a good movie is one which adds to your experience of the rest of the world.... And this film surely doesnt. Its just not coherantly presented; Cooney seems to not be capable of creating a film past the use of generic plot devices.... I dont understand how people have rated this one so highly.....
Score: *1/2 (out of ****)