PREMIER MOVIE REVIEWS - The Messengers (2007)

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The Messengers (2007)

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Director: Oxide Pang Chun & Danny Pang

Certificate: The Messengers  was rated 15A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 15 years of age or upwards.  Those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = strong. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = none. Language = mild.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  The Messengers

  Plot Summary & Review

Had high hopes for this outing from the Pang Brothers having really enjoyed Gin Gwai aka The Eye - sadly it's not a patch on that film, but has its moments.  However, not sure what happens when individuals who normally work mainly in their own country stray into Hollywood but one thing for sure it's rarely for the better… 

The Messengers
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Here we see Roy Solomon (Dylan Mc Dermott) and his wife Denise (Penelope Ann Miller) move to a sunflower  farm to make a fresh start and to get way from an unfortunate incident in their past  (the reasons for which do not  become evident until almost three quarters of the way through the film).  In tow they have an angry teenage daughter Jess (Kristen Stewart) who hates the thought of being isolated on the farm, and losing all her friends in the bargain, and a toddler brother who starts pointing at things when there's clearly  nothing there… or is there?  To complete the scene a drifter called Burwell (John Corbett) turns up and is employed by Roy to help with the harvest and soon becomes part of the family.

Before too long Jess starts seeing unexplained apparitions but even when she is physically attacked, and left with visible injuries the family fail to believe her story seeing it as an attention seeking exercise due to her general unhappiness.

There are lots of Grudge style figures and a few really jumpy moments, as slowly but surely the house begins to reveal its secret past.  I was willing it to be a bit stronger as the cast isn't half bad, the setting is creepy, some of the special effects were very well done, and a twist at the end that I hadn't quite seen coming.  However, sadly it's nothing we haven't seen before.  If you like the horror genre it’s definitely worth a DVD watch, if not, basically don't bother…  In a word - "Watchable".

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

If you enjoy The Messengers you might also enjoy: Cold Creek Manor,  The Grudge,  The Grudge 2,  The Others,  Gothika, or The Amityville Horror.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: KRISTEN STEWART: Cold Creek Manor,  Panic Room.  JOHN CORBETT: Raising Helen,  Serendipity.

Main Cast

Kirsten Stewart

Dylan McDermott

Penelope Ann Miller

John Corbett

Evan Turner

Theodore Turner

RATING

ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO

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