Hitchcock lives!

Rating: Null/10 (7 January 2001)

Although I found this film rather slow and pedestrian, it did show up some imaginative camera work which will live with me longer than the storyline.
Firstly there is the early scene on the train, filmed through the eyes of the little girl sitting in the seat in front, peering from one character to the other as Willis starts to "chat up" the Kelly character. Secondly, the gun scene, filmed in real time, and twice as chilling for that.
Then there is the view of the maintenance man coming in to the bedroom, filmed through the billowing curtains. And finally, the struggle between Willis and the maintenance man, starting with the camera at ground level, and slowly, imperceptibly rising to overhead level.
All imaginative, original and evocative of the master of them all, Alfred Hitchcock. And M. Night Shyamalan's cameo appearance in the film confirmed the tribute that he was paying to the master.
Only one problem. I don't think Hitchcock would have entertained a script as slow as this. You cannot use clever camera work to disguise weaknesses in the other components of the film.