Mirrors Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

U.S. 2008
Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Amy Smart
Release Date: November 6th 2008 (Australia)
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour 46 mins 32 secs

The Movie Review

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MIRRORS
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

By knowing there's a new horror movie involving mirrors, I could already tell that it must have something to do with one of Asian countries. Mirror often becomes an object of supernatural activity in Indonesia, Japan or even Korea. The latter would be the source of inspiration for this movie which would be admitted by the filmmakers in the end credits. So whether it's just another Asian remake or is highly-watchable or not, let's see then.

Starting slow and then continued with cheap soap opera scene that instead of creating a sympathy, Mirrors already annoyed me much. Kiefer Sutherland roles as a retired cop named Ben Carson who tries to get on his feet by stop drinking and eventually getting a new job as a night watch at the old burnt department store. A weird one actually since when everything inside it seems to be scorched, but the mirrors are still as shiny as new.

Ben currently lives with his little sister Angela (Amy Smart) and sadly sleeps on her couch, for a temporary moment, since Ben is actually trying to get back together with his wife and kids which are currently living separated from him. On his first day, Ben starts to notice something very wrong and confusing about the reflection on the mirrors, yes they are reflecting some creepy stuffs that don't exist. Something in the mirror constantly terrorizing Ben which makes him even more an outcast to his family. In his desperation, one of the mirrors scratches a word on it. Ben must find out what the word means before his life and even the lifes of his loved ones are taken.

I like Amy Smart, wherever she performs, she is a likable character. That's actually my real reason to spare my time and watch this film. Yeah, yeah, I was being prejudice over Asian remakes, but hey at least I watched it anyway. Sigh, it turned out that being prejudice sometimes save your time you know, and even your hard-earned money.

If there is an antagonist in this movie, it would be the annoying-slash-b!tchy-slash-stubborn Ben's wife, Amy Carson (Paula Patton). And if chemistry can be looked through the mirror, Kiefer and Paula should gaze at the mirrors more often. Luckily, to their respective commendation, Kiefer and Paula do deliver the audience splendid performances. Brilliant and moving.

Mirrors still relies on medic-box boo scare routine and pretty much similar to that. But I'd have to give credit for the Amy Smart's horror scene, it's shocking and cringe-inducing, guarantee. Too bad, some part of it could be seen anywhere from Mirror's banner, poster to its trailer. But I think I know why the filmmakers were generous enough to make that part known-worldwide, because (and sadly) this is also the strongest terror that you would ever find. There are many horror scenes, but all fail to scare, especially to scare the horror aficionados. They're just too ordinary.

This horror movie does has an innovative downside. Downside? Yes not Upside. Why? Because it's filled with so many unnecessary twists that grow to be even stupider by the scene. However a brilliant twist waits for you if you have enough patience to sit until it ends, a brilliant one, and the one that I personally think is the true entertainment value from the whole running length!

If you still decide to watch it, then to make things work (feeling scared), buy a ticket in hours when there is no other moviegoers except you who will watch it. And bring also a big mirror as your company then put it on seat next to you. And if you think that's too much of an effort, then do please think wisely of spending your bucks.

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