A case of mistaken identity two thirds into the film!

Rating: 3/10 (16 June 2003)

What started off as a very promising film, with captivating atmosphere, beautiful photography, a good cast and an interesting story to tell, all wrapped under some very clever filming perespective, ended up leaving me thinking "Is that it?" As the story unfolded and the pieces fell in place for a dramatic climax, the story was being progressively stripped from plausible explanations as to what was happening. One by one, the "escape routes" were being cut off, leaving the director trying to explain the inexplicable, with the one unavoidable outcome, failure to convince! Shame, as up to that point the film had all the earmarks of a descent, highly enjoyable film, with fast-paced, inventive directing as its strongest point. All in all, it left me with the same feeeling of unachieved potential as 'The ninth gate' did! Still, worth watching for its atmosphere, cast and creative directing.