“The Uninvited” is another Americanized import of a
Japanese horror film. Its release came
with a high expectation as it was produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie
MacDonald, the same team that created a horror renaissance with “The Ring;”
however, this film is mainly a thriller with a few horrific images and an
amazing twist. There are a few jump
scares but the expectation of being scared and shocked as if we were watching
an amplified version of “The Ring” likely led to the film’s negative reception. Its seaside setting in Maine is excellent
with an inviting-yet-threatening house where the majority of the film takes
place. Emily Browning is perfectly cast
in the lead role with an innocent look that comes off as creepy in the film’s
circumstances. Elizabeth Banks is also
successful in the film as we struggle to figure out whether she is fake or
sincere; in fact, you will find that just about every line that she delivers
can be interpreted in multiple ways so that you never know how she actually
feels. While I would categorize these
attributes as “above average,” the thing that makes this film a success is its
well-crafted twist. The twist works
because the writers set it up from the beginning so that it feels completely
organic once it occurs. A great twist is only effective if it makes sense
once you see the big picture and this film makes sure that the partial hints
are dropped and then explained after the big reveal. After this
well-executed shocker, our revelation during the final image of the film is the
icing on the cake. Although it is less
creative and creepy than "The Ring,” it is still a solid film. You just may not think so until the twist
assures us that it is not one long stereotype.
I believe that the film would have been better received under its
original title, "A Tale of Two Sisters," since the double meaning of
"The Uninvited" gets lost in the mix.
You won’t find “The Uninvited” on most peoples’ recommendation lists for
horror films but as a spooky thriller, it is a must-see for its perfectly
executed twist.
[Pictured: “The Uninvited” was marketed mainly as a
horror film, so don’t be disappointed when you realize that it is a
thriller. It is still completely worth
seeing!]
No comments:
Post a Comment