Stormbreaker The direction is

Stormbreaker

The direction is clever and well-paced, but not heavy-handed for this genre. The scriptwriters created terrific characters and believable plot twists in this very suspenseful and eerie film. This is another well-adapted and even improved version of the original Japanese horror flick, but it isnt in the same vein as The Grudge although it is influenced by it. It is much more subdued and darker than that film and is more character driven. Some may not like this slower, more deliberately paced chiller, but that is what gives it momentum and suspense. I think its very well-paced for the genre it falls into which is the traditional haunted house kind of film. This film is worth owning, but not having seen the film in the theaters, I have no clue what was added to this unrated edition of the original PG-13 theatrical release. I can say that I found nothing objectionable in it as sometimes happens with these unrated releases. Less shocking and intense than other Asian horror imports or influenced films, but that made this a fun popcorn film for me and my family as there is no bloodshed, violence, sex, or nudity in this film. A very pretty woman splits from her husband and gets joint custody of her daughter. she moves into a dilapidated apartment that she plans on living in temporarily and for a while things seem to be going well but a leak that causes black water to seep into her bedroom causes problems for her. not to mention her daughter develops a friendship with an imaginary friend and after some haunting dreams and strange happenings around the apartment she finds out whats behind the black water realizes that she Stormbreaker to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to make everything right. The trailer and ads on TV made the movie out to seem like another idiotic PG-13 Japan horror remake and I can see why they did that because after all The Grudge blew up big time at the box office but the problem with that movie was that it sucked beyond belief which may have affected this movie too. this is more than just some silly idiotic wannabe scary movie, its thoughtful, clever, well shot and acted and a great story on top of all that. If the studios had actually marketed the movie that way who knows then more people may have gone to see it but you cant really blame them for trying. I think people maybe initially disappointed with the movie because I know theyll probably expect a movie that has creepy long haired little girls that come out of TVs or whatever but thats not really what this movie is about. It does have moments of intense suspense but it never really gets scary or make you pee yourself a little. the movie never feels forced on contrive but just takes its time and lets things unfold as it happens and really doesnt get creepy and disturbing till weve figured out all the pieces to the puzzle which is what Takashi Miike did with Audition and Roth did with Hostel. This is one of the few movies in which Ive actually seen the original as well as the remake and I like this one a bit more since the story is told a lot better here and isnt slightly confusing Stormbreaker its Japanese counterpart. The one thing the Japanese version does do a lot better is with the music which was really unnerving in that one where as its really quite in the remake I absolutely adore the little girl that plays Connollys daughter in the movie, she so cute that you just feel like pinching her when you see her on the screen. her acting skills may not be the best in the world because I believe that the little girl that played Alessas dark side in Silent Hill is the best child actor of all time but she is still adorable and I hope that someday when I have a kid they turn out that sweet. Much like Sarah Polley, Radha Mitchell, Miranda Otto and Eva Green, Jennifer Connolly is one of those women that Ill forever be biased towards when it comes to their movies. I dont care how crappy the movie that theyre in is Ill still manage to find something about it that I like. I know Im not the only person on the planet that has that biased since a lot of people love to throw perfect 10s at movies featuring their favorite actors or favorite directors. She is all right in the movie but the story really doesnt call on her to do much than be a mother and she does that pretty well. She doesnt have a single moment in the movie in which shell make anyone realize why so many of us think shes such a great actress but she is pretty good in it. John C. Reilly has a small role in the movie as the man that owns the apartment and his character is a regular person. hes pretty much what you see is what you get because there is no deep nuisance or twist involving his character what so ever. hes just a man trying to make it in the world. the only character that has any amount of great mystery to him is the man thats suppose to be the janitor or something. I cant remember the name of the actor but there is a pretty nice twist involving his character and why he always seems so aloof. It may be a Japanese remake but its not as stupid or as annoying as The Grudge and I hope more people give it a chance because its really something special. DARK WATER concerns a young woman named Dahlia Williams Jennifer Connelly who is going through a messy custody battle with her husband over their daughter, Cecelia.