Banal plot, good acting, superb image

Rating: 7/10 (27 October 2006)

The plot here is far from being new. There is nothing bad about that in the end, since the idea of a self/isolated community governed by some taboos was always very challenging. What I didn't like about the movie is that, first of all, everything was too predictable for a movie that has mystery and thriller as key words. Secondly, I found it sometimes boring; for me there were some scenes (like those with the elders' council) that were too long and it seemed to me that the producer wanted to gain some more minutes. So, shorter would have been better. The acting was very good, especially Bryce Howard, who was really great, very natural and really Ivy Walker... What I really loved about the movie, and really stroke me from the first minutes it's the image. It is not about the location for shooting the movie, (since the forest is in no way different than others) but is about the way it was filmed, one could sense the movement of the nature (I could hardly find a more appropriate term). It was as if there was always something around, and I'm not referring at those stupid red creatures. I just think that the way cameras were used saved the movie.