Scary ... how easily some people are to impress

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 2001)

I suffered this over-rated film last night, so now you don't have to. The plot is thin, shabby and largely second hand. Plot points are delivered with granite-slab subtlety, and things happen that defy even the story's own fragile, self-contained reality. Why does the husband appear at all? How unlikely and contrived are the McGuffins buried under the leaves? People seem to have confused lack of pace and creakingly dull storytelling with "atmosphere". All reviews mention "the twist", so you're going to spend a good minute and a half trying to work it out - and you'll be right! And while I admit one scene did actually make me jump, if you lock me in a dark room in front of something this dull almost any loud noise will startle me awake. Despite the hymns of praise to the contary, Nicole Kidman is also quite weak in the lead role.