A brilliant film, you really have to get the meaning behind it, to appreciate it

Rating: 9/10 (30 January 2005)

Firstly I would like to say I really enjoyed this film. I did not see it as a thriller or horror, like the trailer suggests and many expected, however I saw it as a beautifully crafted piece of work. It is all about fear mongering (which is around a lot in the governments of America and Britain these days, even though they are half responsible for the stuff we are fearing!) and how the unknown and unexplainable is a lot more terrifying than something that is known. We are afraid of being afraid, when something is happening we are no longer afraid. Luscious has the courage to venture, and a blind woman in love has the courage to venture through a forest for him. I think that is an amazing thing for her to do!! The real evil, are the elders, trying to control their fears by controlling others. The catalyst for their wrongings is Noah, as he (mentally challenged, simple) can not be controlled under the environment they have enforced on everyone.
The bleakness of the film highlights the bleakness of the world they are living in, and the red costume stands out as they do not see it everyday. I believe it represents blood and fear within the villagers. Luscious colour is perhaps red (as Ivy goes on about) suggesting his stabbing later on, and also how is not afraid of the colour red and the monsters. As Ivy says to him: No one can beat your time (referring to them standing with their back to the forest to see how long they can stay without getting scared). The bleakness makes a strong point, like in Shindler's List where it is black and white apart from the girl's red dress.
So overall i do appreciate this film, I can understand why others may see it's faults, however you have to take it as not a horror or thriller, and do not try to work out the twist at the end, you will only be disappointed. It still made me jump and feel tense as i saw the vulnerability of all the villagers. I believe this is a social message and we should take something from it. Is it better to live without technology and financial worries, but live in fear and have lack of freedom? Are we always being controlled however hard we try to stop it? Oh one last thing..... Did the guard's company name being Walker, have reference to the fact that they were protecting the boundaries for Papa Walker??