A big ship... but such a long gang-plank...

Rating: 5/10 (25 October 2010)

This movie is reminiscent of Carpenter's original "Halloween" - i.e., it's all in the last reel. Then again, that film was highly successful, so maybe this one was too (it took $76M - but its production cost is a mystery). However, before spending two hours of your life on it, consider the following...
We are asked to care about a cloying couple and their obnoxious kids. The apparent central character is the woman - a recovering alcoholic with an obsession for HAVING kids. She already has two - and when a third is still-born, she decides to adopt. Her dopey husband concurs.
Enter Esther - a nine-year-old Estonian girl, played by then-twelve-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman (who is the best thing IN this piece). Being "different", she is bullied at school and soon bumps heads with her new, adoptive brother - who is so objectionable, you can't WAIT for him to get his.
And in due course, he does - along with everyone else, in this predictable "evil child" shocker. The problem is, you don't much CARE (unless, like this writer, you only continued to watch to SEE same).
Thus, when the "big twist" DOES come, you are so bored, it barely registers. Which is a shame, because said twist is a really ORIGINAL one. However, despite ticking the spoiler box, this reviewer is not about to reveal it - as it is really the ONLY reason for watching this drivel.