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Review
The idea of the “panic” room is an
interesting, original idea for this thriller but it also limits the
development of the plot. The occupants of the house lock themselves into
the panic room and the burglars try to get in. It’s as simple as that
but in spite of the somewhat thin plot the film is entertaining enough to
justify a visit to the cinema. There are some good
edge-of-the-seat-moments and also some funny parts when the burglars start
bickering among themselves. After a short introduction to Meg and Sarah
Altman there is no delay in getting into the action and the movie moves
along a steady pace throughout. The ending however lacks a big finale and
was bit of an anticlimax.
Jodie Foster who plays Meg
Altman portrays the protective instinct of a parent very
convincingly. She tries to keep calm and reassure her daughter that
everything is going to be okay. Kristen Stewart plays Sarah, Meg’s daughter, and she puts
in a sound performance.
Forest Whitaker is Burnham, one
of the burglars, who has experience of building panic rooms. He doesn’t
want anyone to get hurt but he is desperate to get the valuables that he
knows are in the panic room.
Probably
not the best thriller we'll see this year but a good effort nonetheless!
Reviewed by Niall Quinn,
PremierMovieReviews 2002 |