Well-done and chilling

Rating: 8/10 (8 October 1999)

Being the ignorant teenager that I am, I needed to have my mother explain the ending to me, as it went too fast for me to grasp just what was happening. After that, though, it made perfect sense and was a fitting conclusion to a pretty good film. In my opinion, it really wasn't as jaw-dropping, shocking, and/or haunting as other people say, but that's just my opinion. I didn't see it coming, but I wasn't looking for it. I still wasn't shocked, though, because it made sense, etc.
As for the rest of the movie, I thought it was pretty good. It could very easily have been done as a cheap, gory horror flick, but in the hands of the director (I forgot his name), it actually exhibits a great deal of intelligence and a nice mix of the supernatural and religion. Yes, Haley Joel Osmont is very good in a role that requires a good deal more maturity than most kids' roles today. He has many of the frightening moments, and they're all frightening in his hands. But he also is effective as the frightened little boy who has a very simple desire we all can relate to: not to be called a freak. Bruce Willis was just okay, but Toni Collette, who plays Osmont's mother, did a good job, as well. The story as it is presented is very chilling, if not very scary. There are quite a few frightening bumps along the way, but none that are truly nightmare-inducing. That's probably because this movie is well above the rest of its genre (Maybe not The Blair Witch Project, but I haven't seen that one.) and fits more into the drama area of movies. Anyway, well-directed, -acted, and -written (except for some stupid parts), and I do recommend it.