The Broken (2008)
We've all seen movies like this before, playing beautifully with the clichés of horror films like doppelgangers, hidden identities, and not knowing who to trust. This one is really rather good, very very beautifully photographed and edited, and nice and short. It isn't all that original, but it's well done for what it is.
This is a pan-Euro production, set in London with British and French actors. The modern setting is compelling--lots of glass, plastic, and stainless steel. And mirrors. The key is when a mirror breaks, someone's doppelganger (or double of some kind, evil it seems at first, but then not for sure) is released into the world. The two selves have to resolve their competing claims to identity and so the horror begins.
The leading actress (Lena Headey) is quite stunning and effective, if that's what you want in a movie. I mean, we believe her and feel for her, but her character is artificial enough we aren't really in a position to know her very well. And so we identify with her only because she's presented as the heroine. It gets truly scary at times, and more and more so to the end, when there is a revelation about it all and a kind of acceptance.
So, if this is your kind of movie, a psychological horror film with some supernatural overtones but not too bloody or absurd, you'll probably like it a lot, more than it's current rating implies. The cast is strong enough, even if made up of types rather than full blown characters. Don't worry about the familiar twists--you'll be scared anyway.
We've all seen movies like this before, playing beautifully with the clichés of horror films like doppelgangers, hidden identities, and not knowing who to trust. This one is really rather good, very very beautifully photographed and edited, and nice and short. It isn't all that original, but it's well done for what it is.
This is a pan-Euro production, set in London with British and French actors. The modern setting is compelling--lots of glass, plastic, and stainless steel. And mirrors. The key is when a mirror breaks, someone's doppelganger (or double of some kind, evil it seems at first, but then not for sure) is released into the world. The two selves have to resolve their competing claims to identity and so the horror begins.
The leading actress (Lena Headey) is quite stunning and effective, if that's what you want in a movie. I mean, we believe her and feel for her, but her character is artificial enough we aren't really in a position to know her very well. And so we identify with her only because she's presented as the heroine. It gets truly scary at times, and more and more so to the end, when there is a revelation about it all and a kind of acceptance.
So, if this is your kind of movie, a psychological horror film with some supernatural overtones but not too bloody or absurd, you'll probably like it a lot, more than it's current rating implies. The cast is strong enough, even if made up of types rather than full blown characters. Don't worry about the familiar twists--you'll be scared anyway.