The Uninvited, 2009 - Quick Movie Review

Director: Charles Guard, Thomas Guard
Starring: Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, David Strathairn, Elizabeth Banks
Running Time: 87 minutes
Score: 4 / 10

This review by Jinja

What's it about?
Official blurb: "Based on Kim Jee-Woon's 2003 Korean horror film, Changhwa, Hongryon, The Uninvited revolves around Anna (Emily Browning - Lemony Snicket), who returns home after spending time in the hospital following the tragic death of her mother. Her recovery suffers a setback when she discovers her father (David Strathairn) has become engaged to her mother's former nurse, Rachel (Elizabeth Banks - Zack & Miri Make A Porno). That night, Anna is visited by her mother's ghost, who warns her of Rachel's intentions.

Together, Anna and her sister (Arielle Kebbel) try to convince their father that his current fiance is not who she pretends to be, and what should have been a happy family reunion becomes a lethal battle of wills between stepdaughters and stepmother. "

Was it good / bad?
Why do I expect anything from American 'teen' horror/thriller movies anymore!? The whole thing felt like i'd seen it all before (and I haven't seen the Japanese original!) with obvious 'make you jump' build ups, and a twist which makes the Sixth Sense feel like the Lawrence of Arabia of twists.

NOTE: I must point out at this point when I first watched Sixth Sense I was waiting for the twist until the credits started rolling, I feel it was all given away in the trailer!

Coolest / Worst scene?
I don't know if i'd class it as the coolest or worst scene in the movie, but when the potential boyfriend climbs through the window in the middle of the night. It starts off with you thinking the couple are going to get caught getting it on, she even takes his wet shirt off, but then the next thing you know 'dun dun daaarrrrrr' it suddenly all goes off!

Did you laugh / cry / cover your eyes / walk out?
I did laugh at some of the what now seem standard horror movie necessities (as mocked in Scary Movie and I suppose Scream), like why do they wait for the cover of darkness when any normal person would go in the middle of the day, and why don't they turn on the light!?

The jumpey bits (potentially about 6 of them) were completely ruined by the build up being so obvious - watch it and wait for the scene in the car, you'll understand exactly what i'm talking about.

Walk out? Nope, you have to give a film a chance. It could redemn itself by the end...unlike Knowing which I saw last week but thats another story....that was awful!

Anything we should watch out for?
Being stung for cash at the flicks if you don't go on a two for one night! Other than that its nothing special.

Why should we see / avoid it?
If you like the US remakes of pretty good Japanese thrillers you'll like this. Otherwise rent the original, A Tale Of Two Sisters, which I haven't even seen but must be better than this.

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