Yep, this one misses the mark. Not that good.

Rating: 6/10 (14 July 2007)

Here, folks, is Jim Carrey's newest movie. His career seems to be veering into darker territories again, like he did on 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But this one crosses the line between morose and sad into actually frightening at times. It's too bad that this is such an underwhelming and generic movie, because Jim Carrey in a horror/thriller sounded like a cool idea. But while this movie is visually pleasing and good if you've never seen better ones, it's really not all that impressive stacked up to the bigger names of the genre. Sadly, the plot twists and turns here are rooted deeply in the likes of Fight Club and El Maquinista, to the point where I have to say that it'd be a better idea to watch those movies instead, and just skip this one entirely.
I don't think Jim Carrey was fully ready to step over the line and into darker, more feral territory. This movie is dark, that's for sure, but it doesn't feel genuine or real. The darkness and morbid atmosphere at work here generally feels forced and contrived instead of actually working. El Maquinista went straight for the jugular with psychotic scares and twists, and that movie was naught but a Fight Club clone anyway, but it still made The Number 23 look like a timid child in comparison. They tried to be dark and morbid, but they slightly missed the mark here. Maybe next time?
Shame, I wanted to like this movie so much, but it's just weak compared to it's influences. Jim Carrey and the other stars here bring up the score, as does the polished and quite well done directing and script, but I have to say that there are other movies that are far more deserving of your money.