Slightly flawed masterpiece

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2007)

Criminally underrated thriller. Sure, the story has its flaws. Sure, it's not really a horror. Sure, the twists are gimmicky. But this is an expertly crafted, emotionally satisfying, and incredibly thematic film. As one can expect from a Shyamalan film, the direction is near-flawless, and this is particularly evident in the true horror scenes in the film, the attack sequences. Without using cheap 'jump' scares, Shyamalan makes a scene scary and suspenseful through some terrific shot placements and effective cinematography. The music contributes quite a bit, too, as James Newton Howard adds another great score to his resume. Though the story is flawed, it's still very well-written, faltering only in certain plot mechanics; though the dialogue may turn off some, I really dug its stylized nature. The romance feels natural and works very well as the central plot device, and the main twist, though quite a leap of logic, brings up some important themes. The acting is very good, with no weak links, but a clear strong link in Bryce Dallas Howard - she's a revelation. Add in to that some great costume and production design, and you've got an absolutely fantastic film.