ThiefHott Too much of everything

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

lathe-of-heaven I have NO bloody idea why this film is rated so damn low. I felt that the psychological elements were excellent and the story very well executed.The interactions with his brother are quite moving and the acting is very good all around. The story is well paced building to a powerful ending, which could very well catch you by surprise. Another reviewer here mentioned that this film was derivative. I didn't see that at all; I thought the story was well conceived and capably directed. I don't normally go for films that are strongly centered on personal Drama, but this one was quite engaging, drawing you along as it gradually reveals what is truly happening.I really cannot see how it possibly could have been done any better...

FlashCallahan After a tragic accident, and a stay at mental health unit, Matthew returns to his home with his father, and the disappearance of his brother still looming over them.Matthew watches a few tapes of appeals and soon, starts to hear his brother calling him and sees I'm from afar.He appeals to his father, but he seems to blame him for his brothers disappearance, after all, he was supposed to be looking after him, but had a party and let him go to the playground.So Matthew is trying to rebuild his life, and although his friends and his councillor support him, he cannot let go. And neither can his brother.......It's really well acted, and the lead is phenomenal, as is the actor playing his father. And although nothing really happens throughout the film to shock, the build up and the brooding atmosphere of the tower block keeps you interested.The best aspect of the film is the relay ship between Matthew and his father. Bothe are really to blame for the boys disappearance, but both know this and have ammunition for one another. The father is the type with a short temper, and he at times seems like he is going to explode.The final third lets the side down a little though, going for the old serial killer routine and although some of the twists are really obvious from the start (Amy for one is the most obvious) it does try to treat the viewer as intelligent being rather than a gore hound.The serial killer side of the film was hopefully just for absolution for the missing boy, but it really does feel out of place here.But other than that, it's an amazing piece of cinema with two wonderful performances from the two leads.

johannes2000-1 This movie was a pleasant surprise on all accounts. It's fairly creepy, has a good pace and is very well acted. Why they should want to advertise this as a horror movie is beyond me, it's not horror at all, more a supernatural thriller, like (for instance) Dragonfly is; like that one it's about dead people who try to communicate with the living to pass on an important message. For the die-hard horror fans there's not much to enjoy: no graphic killings, no gore, hardly any blood-shed and no spectacular special effects; the creepiness is mainly atmospheric, but to me (and I'm actually a big horror fan myself) it totally worked, so kudos to Johnny Kevorkian who directed and (co-)wrote this movie. The whole project impresses as low-budgeted, but they made that cleverly work in favor of the movie, the dreadful and desolate surroundings of the suburban apartment-buildings adding up to the needed surreal atmosphere. Young Harry Treadaway gives a fine and very convincing performance as the traumatized and guilt-ridden Matthew who feels responsible for his little brothers disappearance one evening when he was having a booze and pot party on his room with friends and more or less forgot about his brother playing alone outside. Treadaways acting is impressive: very restrained and subtle and with a surprising maturity. Gregg Wise plays the father with equal perfection, the awkward and strained relationship between the two of them gets palpable in an almost claustrophobic way. A special mention to Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films!) who gives a good performance in his small role as Matthews buddy Simon. My only slight criticism is more general in respect to this kind of films: I always wonder why dead people are supposed to follow such elaborate and cryptic schemes to deliver an important message - can't they just announce it fair and square in a dream or write it down supernaturally on a piece of paper?! Now poor Matthew has to spend a whole movie trying to decipher all these weird goings-on! And boy, they are really stretching the limits of credibility in this one! I mean: I can live with hearing the voice of a dead loved-one, or seeing a dead person from the corner of your eyes flash by. But spending many a day with a girlfriend (and making out with her!), who afterwards turns out to be already dead ?! Visiting a neighborhood medium and even receiving a drawing from her little child when afterwards both turned out to having been dead for a long time too?!? It maybe was a bit too much to swallow, but anyway, it sort of comes with this kind of territory and it didn't diminish my appreciation at all. I give the movie a heartfelt 9 out of 10!

Denicio_Del_Toro Well acted, nicely shot, and with a solid score, this is a decent feature. It's only real flaws are an extremely derivative, and occasionally confused, plot; and some slightly clumsy dialogue at times.It looks good, without being spectacular, which entirely suits its council estate setting. Combined with excellent performances from the leads, it could almost work as a pure kitchen sink drama. Despite not being given much to say, Harry Treadaway and Greg Wise are a convincingly troubled father and son. The support is also broadly good; Tom Felton is particularly notable.The troubles come with the exasperatingly unoriginal plot - it borrows and from a whole selection of similar films. The good news is that it does choose some of the best to steal from; the trouble that it isn't good enough to stand up to these classics. However, it holds together well, at least until the latter stages, when a few too many extraneous ingredients are thrown into the pot.Broadly, a decent effort if not outstanding. Given the mechanics, I would be interested to see future work from the team behind it - they just need some more original ideas to start with.