Good attempt at a look on modern insanity and good plot
Disadvantages:
Does not quite work
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Are you insane? Are you sure? Who judges insanity? Oh yes you may not be insane according to me, but what about your cat? Hmm, they might view you as insane.
Ok, I digress; this is a film dealing with what society views as insanity. Annette Benning and Aidan Quinn star as the married couple whose daughter is abducted and killed by a serial killer (played by Robert Downey Junior).
However, Clare (played by Annette Benning) had visions of a little girl’s abduction and death, before her daughter is snatched and after her daughters death these visions increase. She sees locations, hears music and sees very weird flashbacks of the flooding of a nearby area to form a reservoir.
Clare, is convinced that somehow, she can see and feel things that the killer is experiencing or has experienced, she thinks there is a link. But, surprise, surprise society says, no missy you are stark raving loopy, just because the thought that one person can transmit images and thoughts to another is alien to us and viewed as wacky. Doctors simply say she is having trouble coming to terms with the bereavement and the police ignore her. (Whether she is mad or not, I leave up to you to judge after you have seen the film, as any more discussion of this may spoil the plot for you.)
Anyway the killer goes on killing and Clare is convinced that he has murdered her husband (again whether he has would be telling!)
The whole story of the serial killer and his problems is unfolded to the viewer through Clare’s dreams and visions and this is another fresh approach from this film.
So you get the plot, child serial killer, police try and track the man, have no luck and Clare one of the victims mother is seen as going ga ga.
This is a film with a good idea an analysis of insanity in the form of a popular movie with a popular subject matter. But despite good performances from all the stars and a good script and plot line, the film fails to really absorb you. I cannot put my finger on what it is, but something makes this film fail. Perhaps it is the shallow flirtation with Clare’s madness, or the fact that we have all seen serial killer films and it is a tired genre. Robert Downey Jr, gives a superb performance as the nutty? serial killer, who society has well and truly screwed up. But the film still does not hit the spot; if you can tell me why, please do because I am puzzled. There are some fresh ideas, good acting, but no….
The dreams/visions Clare has do at times create a real atmosphere of suspense, but that is not enough and at times, vision/dream and real life become confused.
I would not rush to watch this and it is adapted from a book which may be better, average film, one to watch if you do not have much else to do.
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