Mirrors (2008)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Alexandre Aja

Writers (WGA):

Alexandre Aja (screenplay) &
Grégory Levasseur (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

There Is Evil........On The Other Side

Plot:

An ex-cop and his family are the target of an evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home.

Plot Keywords:

Mirror | Evil | Ex Cop | Marriage | Bathtub

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland	...	Ben Carson
Paula Patton	...	Amy Carson
Cameron Boyce	...	Michael Carson
Erica Gluck	...	Daisy Carson
Amy Smart	...	Angela Carson
Mary Beth Peil	...	Anna Esseker
John Shrapnel	...	Lorenzo Sapelli
Jason Flemyng	...	Det. Larry Byrne
Tim Ahern	...	Dr. Morris
Julian Glover	...	Robert Esseker
Josh Cole	...	Gary Lewis
Ezra Buzzington	...	Terrence Berry
Aida Doina	...	Rosa (as Doina Aida Stan)
Ioana Abur	...	Front Desk Sister
Darren Kent	...	Jimmy Esseker

Also Known As:

Into the Mirror (USA) (working title)
Oglinzi malefice (Romania)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

110 min | 112 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | Romania

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:18PL | Netherlands:16 | Japan:R-15 | USA:R (certificate #43839) | South Africa:16LV | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:18 | UK:15 (cut) | UK:18 (DVD rating) (uncut) | Argentina:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:VM14 | Peru:18 | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III (uncut) | Norway:15 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Academy of Sciences, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

The name 'Esseker' is an anagram for 'Seekers'. This can be an appropriate terminology for the demons who live on the other side of the mirrors seeking out their host, Anna Esseker.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the beginning of the movie, it was clearly stated that the burned-out store had no electricity. However when Ben Carson is in the basement breaking a hole in the wall, the florescent ceiling lights are on. There is also a close-up shot of an incandescent bulb flickering on and off.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gary Lewis: [after opening window and seeing that it doesn't lead anywhere] Oh fuck!

Movie Connections:

Remake of Geoul sokeuro (2003)

Soundtrack:

Happy Valentine's Day

not since poltergeist and poltergeist three have mirrors been so chilling

I welcome Kiefer Sutherland with open arms as he's in the land of TV far too often. Although he seems to lack the great range of his father Donald, he is a great underrated actor. Mirrors gives Kiefer a lot to play with but too many Asian horror remakes have been spat recently and while Mirrors is one of the better remakes, the story twist is something we've seen too many times.

No stranger to remakes director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes remake and 2009's Piranha 3-D) takes the viewer though paint by numbers stuff as Ben Carson (Kiefer), a former undercover detective, is forced to take a night time security job at a department store that was gutted by a fire but there is an evil lurking in the mirrors that he must stop to save his family.

Lately, I wish all the PC's in the world were stolen so I wouldn't have to see another dodgy effect detract from an actor's performance. While some effects are modest it's the bad CGI that spoils some moments of scariness. When practical effects are used there is a moment that would stop you ever looking into a mirror and taking a bath again.

Jason Flemyng shows up for a welcomed moment but seems to take his pay cheque and disappear as fast as some of the eerie atmosphere. Between Paula Patton and Amy Smarts (almost a cameo appearance) the acting is above average even down to the child actors who are at no time annoying.

Overall, Kiefer leaves his mark and it may not be the most original horror but at times it is certainly is creepy, not since poltergeist and poltergeist three have mirrors been so chilling.