alancroydon

I had fun watching Red Eye. It's not a masterpiece, but it's well directed and structured. Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams are perfect in the role. Yes, it's the same old story with a different setting but Wes Craven gave it a good pace. At least not another Scream with the usual college killer. It's nice when you can see a clean, coherent thriller even when originality doesn't stand out as its main character. Particularly from a film-maker like Craven that has brought so many innovative ideas to the thriller and horror genre in the past and that now just lends himself to bringing home what could have been a good TV movie had it not been released theatrically. Good job!

With all of the resources to reprise the original idea and turn it into a wonderful re-read of this true story of possession, the remake is as boring a remake can be. I wasn't scared. And as soon as I finished I went back home and watched the original again on DVD. No comparison. Lots of chills. I find it hard to believe that no one can come up with a better idea than remaking an already wonderful original. I saw "Emily Rose" the other day: that's powerful! That's new! Horror needs new ideas, and if someone dares remaking a classic they'd better do it by innovating not plainly re-filming the original. This one, in addition to a poor screenplay, employ a directorial style that is completely deja-vu. And that in its attempt to chill ends up boring you.

Horror needs to redefine itself. The various Screams, Nightmares-on-Elm-Streets and the like have made their time. And if the changes to the genre come from a small overseas short movie, so be it! Unlike most horror shorts - at least those that circulate at genre festivals - this one reminds you more of Jack Clayton's "The Innocents" than most of the recent horror flicks. Shot in the style of "The Exorcist" (clean, slow and accurate as a mini-documentary), it tells you about a young guy who cannot sleep due to a sequence of repetitive bad dreams. It takes a short while to find out the dream is just a box for other nightmares that use the main one as a vehicle. Accompanied by a "classic style" soundtrack (no drums and electronics, at last!) and stylish photography, it develops its little story coherently and pleasantly. Welcome back, good old horror of the fifties!