A film that lost its way..

Rating: 3/10 (20 March 2010)

This review contains a spoiler.
It's always great when people find a film they like and obviously some people really liked this film. For myself I lost interest in the first fifteen minutes and by the time I got to the end nothing could save it.
While it's stylishly directed, it's unfortunately mostly style and little substance. The opening is great and for a few moments you think it's going to be a great movie, but quickly the story loses any forward momentum. The main character's hallucinations quickly overshadow any plot that was beginning to develop. The script sets up a false premise that really has nowhere to go. Indeed the script is telegraphing the end right from the start giving the bulk of the film a strangely aimless feel. I am amazed anyone could find it tense or refer to it as a horror film.
A good psychological thriller needs to make you believe in it, but with the director undercutting the reality every step of the way I actually found many of the scenes laughable. Truth be told it seemed many of the actors were also struggling with the script and only clicked in at the end when there was a real story to be told.
Unless you're a big Scorsese fan, save your money. My guess is this will be on television before you know it.