Sometimes, a psychological horror movie has the perfect cast, but not the best screenplay in place to make the most of their talents. 2005 hide and seek It falls into this tragic category as Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning really bring their A-game in a tense performance filled with tension and an unknown source of terror. I can't even make a mistake. hide and seek The film is poorly produced despite budget constraints (25 million is nothing to scoff at) as the cinematography is top notch and successfully builds suspense before things start to fall apart in the third act.
I'm reminded of an industry phrase I've learned over the years working with various audio engineers on music projects that I think applies to mellow songwriting in high-end production and talent. hide and seek. I mean, you can polish the turd all you want, but it's still dirt.
But it is. hide and seek Is it really all that bad? Or is it contrived and generic — which in the right context isn't necessarily an accusation of cruelty — to the point where most seasoned horror fans think it's a waste of time? 13 percent of the critical point Rotten tomatoes It's telling, but what's more revealing is the 50 percent score on the pop cornmeter, which suggests that hide and seek It's a slightly more effective psychological thriller than the critics would have you believe.
If I had to weigh it. hide and seek is it. It's contrived and generic, but it's a solid entry point for the casual horror fan.
Watch out for Charlie
hide and seek Introducing Dr. David Callaway (Robert De Niro), a psychologist in need of a fresh start after the suicide of his daughter Emily (Dakota Fanning), his wife Alison (Amy Irving). Moving to upstate New York, David unpacks his belongings and begins piecing his life together. Listening to music and writing in his journal at night to help him and Emily cope with their recent tragedy, David seems to be doing his best to help his daughter live a normal life after her mother's death.
Aside from David's recurring nightmare of seeing Alison alive at the New Year's Eve party, they seem to be together, but quickly unsettled by Emily's new imaginary friend "Charlie". Being a psychologist, David has reason to believe that this is a coping mechanism created by Emily to help Charlie deal with her grief. David's hypothesis seems to work until acts of violence happen - like the family cat being killed even though David and Emily live alone - which Emily always blames on Charlie.
As the film's title suggests, Emily likes to play hide-and-seek with Charlie whenever David is studying, and the result of this seemingly innocent game always ends in violence. After befriending a local woman named Elizabeth (Elizabeth Shue), Emily (and Charlie) invites Emily (and Charlie) to play a twisted version of the game with them, and things reach a point of no return. Dealing with his own grief, David takes on a fatherly role in trying to help Emily deal with the loss of Charlie, who is turning her life upside down.
He acted well enough, but he could not stick to the landing
Remember when I say this hide and seek He is skilled and general, but is he well-carried by his talent? I stand by my question because Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning perform convincingly, even as the screenplay leads their characters to painfully obvious conclusions and revelations. He aspires to be the ultimate "twist". The sixth senseBut if you're a frequent flyer on the psychological horror airlines, we've got an initial revelation that will leave you disappointed.
Dakota Fanning has an amazing performance, especially considering she was 11 years old Hide and seek Release. Every time Charlie shows up, she portrays her feelings of fear and confusion convincingly to the audience in her innocent interactions with her father, to the point of portraying a little girl being tormented by a violent friend (or an imaginary stranger). You'll find yourself wondering if she's just a little girl trying to rip off her daddy or really being tormented by Charlie, and if you let your guard down, the answer might surprise you.
I can't necessarily fault De Niro and Fanning for doing the best they can with what they're given, because it's a father/daughter dynamic. hide and seek It seems to come from a real place.
Watching hide and seek
is it hide and seek Should you score 13 percent on Rotten Tomatoes? Not by a long shot. If anything, I'd consider this film a mid-level, entry-level psychological horror film that has a decent place in the genre for casual viewers who aren't yet enthralled by the genre.
As of this writing hide and seek It is not available StreamingIt's a shame because it's an absolutely underrated film with some fantastic shooting sequences that are truly unsettling. However, you can check the title by ordering Google Play Movies, Apple TV+, Fandango at homeAnd Amazon Prime Video.
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