Look Away

"Look Away" (2018, Assaf Bernstein, Vertical Entertainment) is a dark psychological horror about the dangers of wishing you were someone else...

Maria (India Eisley) is an alienated teen girl, who's only friend, Lily (Penelope Mitchell), has a boyfriend Maria is harbouring secret feelings for. As well as being bullied and outcast at school, Maria is subjected to criticism at home, especially from her plastic surgeon father (Jason Isaacs). Maria discovers that her reflection, Airam, has a mind of her own and offers to switch places with Maria to help solve her problems. Maria submits to this and her more confident and aggressive double assumes her place in the real world, leaving Maria watching from the mirror realm... But, as Airam begins to exact ruthless revenge on those who upset Maria, Maria finds that she is unable to stop her or get her own place back in the world....

A surprisingly grim film, I especially enjoyed the scenes with the figure skating. The film also isn't scared to flirt with some darker aspects with the father character, without losing sight that it is a teen film. There are some plot twists that deliver quite well, some that don't seem to hit the mark as well, but without derailing the overall plot. And Eisley gives a great performance as both our timid protagonist, Maria, and our wily antagonist, Airam.

Overall, I found the film enjoyable, but it does suffer from having quite slow pacing, which takes away from the overall energy that is later built up during the revenge scenes. The intrigue of the premise kept me engaged, however, and, although it's certainly no perfect piece, I would venture  back for a rewatch in the future.

 [Image: Vertical Entertainment]

Hani

Mirrors

"Mirrors" (2008, Alexandre Aja, Regency Enterprises, New Regency, 20th Century Fox) is a jump-scare horror about what lurks on the other side of the looking glass.

Ben (Kiefer Sutherland) becomes the new security guard at an old shutdown department store which had previously suffered a horrific fire. He's an ex-cop, ex-husband and father of one son called Mikey.

It doesn't take long for Ben to discover what his recently deceased predecessor had also known, there's something inside those suspiciously well polished mirrors within that abandoned, spooky, fire-gutted building. And whatever is in there wants him for something. Naturally, he does some digging and there's a perfectly logical and spooky reason behind it all.

Fun, gory and quite atmospheric, the OTT death scenes actually lend rather well to this otherwise creepy premise.

Despite obviously relying on jump scares, gory shock effects and people's irrational fears for cheap thrills, the film benefits from a good cast, clever effects and a chilling ending. The hand prints on the other side of the glass are truly freaky.

I really enjoyed it, and I have to admit I'd avoided this one for years thinking it to be yet another modern jump-scare romp! It's certainly worthy of a spin.

[Image: New Regency & 20th Century Fox]

Hani

Oculus

"Oculus" (2013, Mike Flanagan, Blumhouse Productions, WWE Studios, Intrepid Pictures, Relativity Media) is a film about a family destroyed by a creepy antique mirror's presence.

Kaylie Russell (Karen Gillan) has returned to her childhood home with her brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites), who has spent the last 11 years in a psychiatric hospital for killing his father. Kaylie believes that Tim is not responsible for the death of her father, and is convinced that the antique mirror in her parent's study is haunted and the cause of all of their heartache. She intends to prove her brother's innocence once and for all.

We see the film in two timeframes; present day and also Kaylie and Tim's childhood through flashbacks. Slowly, the truth behind the sinister effects of the mirror are unveiled as both adults begin to see ghosts, memories and creepy things.

An old trope done with a modern slant, I thought this film was really well put together and manages to use some old horror cliches without being predictable.

Some of the hallucinations are truly inspired, and the atmosphere is truly very intense with some great camerawork.

The flashbacks also manage not to detract from the film's building dread, and the characters are well written, especially the parents, who we watch slowly come under the dreadful influence of whatever lurks within the looking glass.

It's still freaky to hear Karen Gillan with an American accent, however!

[Image: Intrepid Pictures, et al]

 

Hani