turtlewax182

I heard about this movie nearly a year ago and was really excited to see it (since I'm a fan of almost everyone who stars). Plus I respect Cusack's work since he has such an impressive resume.

However, this movie really did not hold together for the last 15 or 20 minutes, and I think quite a few people agree with me in saying; WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT? This is one of those endings where you're like "huh?" for the next hour after you've left the theater. Trying, desperately, to piece it together. Not one of those clever, profound, thought-provoking endings, but the one where it just didn't make any sense. It came out of left field too quickly and actually pretty unrealistic. Not WHAT happened to the victims, but that it was all apart of some psychotic man's imagination?? Um, okaaaaay.

Still, maybe if I didn't expect so much from it, I would have enjoyed it more. I just think it was cheapened and that the screenwriter couldn't come up with anything relevant so he tossed this onto our plates. I found the storyline of "everything happens for a reason and they were all meant to die at this motel on this night" and all. That's more interesting to me personally.

I have a few things to point out about the ending (so it's best not to read ahead if you've not witnessed this)...

Okay, so Madison is arrested and we think all is well, right? Not just yet folks! She manages to grab the officer's gun (as if they sit in the back-seat of a patrol car with a prisoner beside them -- and are foolish enough to let this happen anyway. And if so, they deserved to be shot) and shoots both cops. THEN she strikes again, by kidnapping Amy - Ben's typical, nothing special blah girlfriend, who was terribly UN-entertaining, and plans to drown her by cuffing her to a chair and pushing her into a swimming pool. At this point, we think Amy is doomed. But no... wait... Ben just HAPPENS to have the very same hairclip Madison gave him when they first met, in his back pocket, which enables him to unlock the cuffs and save her! The climax is Madison drowns, leaving everyone relieved and able to go on their merry way. ::gags herself:: Right, okay. ::rolls eyes::

How hideously ridiculous is that? Granted, I knew this wasn't going to be great for starters, simply because it was setup like most movies directed at the 13-17 age range. Hollywood must assume all teenagers are complete idiots and that we will not stand for any type of film that requires us to use two (or less) brain-cells to grasp the meaning of a storyline. I mean, after seeing movies like this, you'd think any schmuck off the street can be a screenwriter. Look kids, it IS possible to shovel this kind of garbage into the faces of movie-goers, who knew?! What happened to originality in the cinema world? Maybe this was more suspenseful and clever on paper, in a script - although highly doubtful - it certainly wasn't executed well onscreen. A total letdown. Grade: D (Cause it wasn't the most horrible I've ever seen, hard to believe, I know).

I don't think I'm alone in saying this was really confusing and just a jumbled mess. I mean, I didn't feel as if the scenes tied the story together. Like Brave Sir Robin said, there's lots of side plots that have no relevance. Personally, I didn't even get the ending. Yes, the girl coming through the TV - and her face - made me wince, but what I didn't get was why Rachel and Aidan survive just by watching a different copy of the tape?

I mean the film overall is creepy, NOT scary. I think some have mistaken the differences. Maybe it's a possibility that I just don't get the heebie-jeebies easily. The only movie that makes me pee my pants is "The Exorcist" and this does not, by far, even compare in the slightest. Especially considering what occurred in "The Exorcist" has been reported as actually happening, whereas this is so unbelievable and fictitious.

I might have enjoyed it more by not having the expectations that it was one of the most horrifying films of the past 10 years or something. I'd recommend that if you do see this, just take it in how YOU want to. Maybe you'll like it, who knows. But I personally don't plan to watch it again in the near future. AND I get the feeling this has sequel written all over it, due to the ending and the enormous success (which I'm sure the film company would love to duplicate).