Amazing

Rating: 10/10 (2 November 2015)

So unfortunately I watched this 11 years after it came out-hands down one of the best horror/thrillers ever. I had low expectations for some reason, but it was the rarest of occasions that I was dead wrong.
The script is airtight-close to perfect, as far as logic goes. The way it built to the end with everything falling into place was brilliant. When the killer stood up in the room at the end my jaw literally dropped and I was yelling "oh my God" to myself in my room (and my dogs I guess).
I can see why people said this is more thriller than horror. A genius concept though- a killer who helps you be grateful for your life. It was extremely well executed too, and all of the killer's schemes were really well thought out. The pacing and editing was really well done. They'd show just enough of what's going on outside the room, then when you're wondering what how the 2 guys in the room are doing they'd switch to that.
This movie easily could've sucked with lesser writers, although I guess that's true of anything but especially here. He could've relied on gore. He could've been lazy in the 2nd act by showing some dumb scenes of excess marital backstory between husband & wife, showing the cop getting fired or something (Danny glover's character was awesome btw but his arc was perfect), or spending too much time in the room with the 2 dudes arguing. In fact, the writer probably had that in earlier drafts but discarded it bc he's a better writer.
Instead, he pushed it to the limit by switching it up and revealing little details along the way. He kept me guessing to the very end who the killer was. This is how good of a twist the ending is: (major spoiler alert): I remembered someone telling me the killer is in the room the whole time about a decade ago when it came out, but I got so wrapped up and engaged in the movie that I dismissed my memory as mistaken and was still shocked by the ending! Honestly that was incredibly well done.
I totally thought the orderly was the killer. Also I liked that both guys in the room live in the end too. The writer did a great job making me root for both of them and care about what happens.
Thank you for a great experience!