August 04, 2008
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Always take a moment to reflect.Before blindly rushing off to see director Alexandre Aja's latest cinematic remake Mirrors, perhaps an impromptu visit to the source material is in order. Sung-ho Kim's effective 2003 chiller Into the Mirror is a solid film in its own right, though I suspect that the film's even pacing and the severe lack of graphic violence will ultimately bore most modern-day American moviegoers to death. The picture concerns itself with a disgraced ex-cop turned security guard who is faced with not only the demons from his troubled past but a series of gruesome murders inside the shopping center he's been hired to protect. Kim's use of mirrors as both a metaphor and an instrument of fear is impressive; there always seems to be some sort of reflective surface in the shot, be it a puddle of water or a display case stuffed with interesting technological knick-knacks. Sadly, those searching for something overdriven and visceral will certainly be disappointed, as Into the Mirror is more in tune with old-school suspense flicks than what passes for horror these days. That said, the film is, at times, undeniably eerie and genuinely scary, providing just enough gore and bloodshed to keep you squirming. Definitely worth investigating.
Recipe For Success: Great Atmosphere + Rock Solid Performances + An Interesting Last Minute Twist
I'm Not Looking: I'm sure both films will do for mirrors what Psycho did for showers.
I guess I won't be watching myself bathe for a while.
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