20th Century Fox
www.mirrorsmovie.com
How many times a day do you check your reflection, in a mirror, a shop window or a car. A mirror is the door to the soul and cannot lie. It shows us the truth, even if we don’t want to see it. But can some mirrors hold onto things we cannot see?
Like many other films before it, the Grudge, the Ring, the Eye and Dark Water, Mirrors has been transformed from an East Asian movie into a creepy Americanised thriller staring 24’s Kiefer Sutherland. Sutherland plays Ben Carson, a police detective taking a break from the force to deal with an alcohol problem. He is separated from his wife and children, living with his sister and takes a night security job patrolling a burnt out shopping mall. While patrolling one night he begins to get disturbed by the mirrors that thrive inside. He begins to hear noises and see things in the mirrors that are not present on his side but can be seen in the mirrors reflection; distorted faces, people with severe burns and hand prints of which he cannot account for. Ben goes on a mission to find out what is going on inside the mirrors, resulting in the death of someone close to him.
There is suspense from the start and the mind automatically gets puzzled and tries to place together how one man and his reflection can do two separate things, both resulting in some gruesome images. The movie continues on a path of mystery, getting the mind working in over time as much as Sutherlands character’s on screen. The surprise and unexpected ending is probably the most enjoyable part of the film and supplies some of the movies more gruesome images. Throughout the film there are sights of a frightful nature. From the first to the last killing these visions are on the same wavelength as Saw, with body parts being ripped from one end to the other. The most horrific image is when the creature creating the visions in the mirror gets its intended victim and takes over their body. The way it comes to be is unpredictable and takes you off guard with its presence and distorted and horrifying human form.
The only disappointment I had regarding Mirrors was the segment in which the mirrors explode. I felt this to be a vital part of the conclusion yet not as impressive as it could have been. We see the pieces of the mirrors fall to the ground shattering yet I was let unfulfilled and rather let down regarding the reaction it created. I wanted a little more shock and astonishment, the same reaction caused as the creature approaches, but no such luck.
With its thoughtful plot line to get the brain flickering in and out of consciousness, grasping events that add a little more to the mirror mystery and the creature presence to take you by surprise, don’t expect all happy endings, butterflies and roses come the last scene, wait for a twist in fate you will never see coming. Mirrors is a great film and has a bundle of special features on the DVD including looking into making the film come to life with sets and Sutherlands input as well as much more. Definitely a must see for fans of murder mysteries and plot twists.
Michelle Moore