Outstanding.

Rating: 10/10 (23 October 2004)

Just finished watching it, and I think it's one of the better movies that I've seen in quite a while. Perhaps one of the best.
I've read quite a few reviews in various places where people complained about the pacing of the movie, personally there weren't any points where the movie dragged for me.
As for the acting, well... I've seen much worse. Yes, Cary Elwes has a tendency to go over the top at times, but that's pretty much his acting style. Not that he's a bad actor, he's just much better suited to comedy than drama. For my money, he's a terrific comedic actor. Was he miscast? I don't know. Maybe I'm biased in that I just love looking at the guy, heh, so I can forgive mistakes more easily than some.
The ending... ah what can I say about the ending? I'll say this. I LOVED it. LOVED it. Whether or not you "saw" it coming (ah, forgive the pun, I had to), I think it fit the movie perfectly.
The movie is made all the better given the low budget and relative inexperience of the writers/director. For a first effort, I think it's absolutely outstanding.
I think part of the problem people have with this movie is that they were expecting a gruesome horror, when I'd classify it more as a psychological thriller. For me, those are the best kind.
Regarding comparisons of this movie to Se7en, I don't think it's an apt comparison. Do they have a common meeting ground? Yes. So do a lot of movies that are vastly different from each other in execution and style.
One last comment, on the subject of plot holes. I've got three words - suspension of disbelief. Learn it, live it, love it.
C.