Derivative, although fun to watch

Rating: 8/10 (6 April 2010)

WARNING! THIS ENTIRE REVIEW IS A SPOILER! For me, watching this movie was an exercise in recycling old ideas and making them work again. To say that this isn't a rehash of 1920's "The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari" would be to totally ignore the history of film. One look at the insanely jagged staircases Block "C" and I knew where this film was going.
That doesn't make it a bad film. On the contrary, DiCaprio gives a fine performance and the film is excitingly and tightly directed and put together.
It just isn't... original, although it's made out to be so.