a purist's theory - fantastic modern horror-(U.S. version)

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2006)

I know this will come as shocking to many of you, but I just recently saw this film in the States for the first time, and I have to say - after seeing the "original ending," I actually prefer the U.S. version, and here's why...
As a horror fan, I come from what I like to call a "Purist" point-of-view, meaning I want to see blood and guts carnage just for the sake of carnage. :) While I respect the open-ended interpretive quality of the filmmaker's original cut, I feel like it adds too much "psycho-babble" to the mix. This is a pure and simple monster movie. Well, maybe not so much simple, as I love the back story on the main characters, and it offers a more fully-fleshed script than most horror films do. But none-the-less, it is a *beep* you monster movie, and it delivers. I don't want it to be too thought-provoking or "open to interpretation," as is the case in the original ending. Just like "High Tension," I felt the "psychotic" mumbo jumbo actually detracted from the overall effectivness of the horror. Keep it simple, people! It would have been so much scarier if there actually was some psycho randomly killing French farm-country families for no reason whatsoever.(See "High Tension" if you don't know what I am talking about.) I just want to have the *beep* scared out of me, and maybe actually feel something for the characters. Did "Alien" have to leave room for interpretation? Did, "Dawn of the Dead?" How about "Carrie?" These are all obviously films that Neil Marshall was inspired by, and in the vein of those films, let's keep things simple, shall we? I LOVED this film. I thought (at least the U.S. version) ended brilliantly, and was BRILLIANT throughout. The story felt honest and brutal, and it reminded me of everything from "Evil Dead"(the cabin in the beginning anyone?) to "Alien" (those ruthless gut-eating scenes, not to mentiong the kick-you-ass style of the women in the film.) Anyway, just a thought. IMHO. :)