The Phoenix Network:
About | Advertise
 
Movies
Features  |  Reviews

Mirrors

A less gory and more clichéd remake
By CHRIS WANGLER  |  August 20, 2008
1.5 1.5 Stars
mirrorsinside.jpg

Alexandre Aja’s hyper-stylized remake of The Hills Have Eyes was graphic and successful, confirming his membership in the so-called Splat Pack. Mirrors, his uneven rehash of a Korean original, is less gory and more clichéd. Kiefer Sutherland has an ideal role as a recovering alcoholic (!) and disgraced cop who takes a security job in a burnt-out NYC department store. When Ben starts to notice charred fire victims trapped inside the store’s mirrors, his estranged wife (Paula Patton) thinks it’s just the pills talking. Solid suspense and cringe-inducing set pieces keep the first half interesting. Then comes the curse of many a new horror film: the task of devising a less-than-preposterous explanation for all that “unspeakable evil.” The solution here involves a monastery, a psychiatric torture chamber, and the word ESSEKER. It would all be funny if it didn’t mirror the same burnt-out ideas every one else is using. 110 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle/Chestnut Hill + Suburbs
Related:
  Topics: Reviews , Alexandre Aja , Kiefer Sutherland , Paula Patton
  • Share:
  • RSS feed Rss
  • Email this article to a friend Email
  • Print this article Print
Comments

Today's Event Picks
ARTICLES BY CHRIS WANGLER
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   BOLT  |  November 18, 2008
    Pixarian technical wizardry and Disney schmaltz
  •   PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS  |  October 08, 2008
    Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies
  •   GHOST TOWN  |  September 16, 2008
    A fill-in-the-blanks, DOA comedy
  •   MIRRORS  |  August 20, 2008
    A less gory and more clichéd remake
  •   THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPIRE  |  August 05, 2008
    A flashy, ludicrous threequel

 See all articles by: CHRIS WANGLER

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 
HOT TOPICS
 More Topics . . .
LATEST SLIDESHOWS

All Slideshows



Featured Articles in Music Features:
081114_thorpe_list

Say it ain't so, Joe

Breaking: Biden resigns the vice-presidency amid Wentzgate scandal
081107_deerhunter_slot

Market demand

Deerhunter’s redistribution of rock
081031_bighurt_list

Stayin’ alive

How to survive without resorting to disco
081024_jolie_list

Wandering star

Jolie Holland’s got demons on her trail
081017_thorpe_list

The Big Hurt: The week in digital mishaps

Internets threaten Kid Rock, Steven Tyler, and sexy bits
Thursday, November 20, 2008  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2008 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group