Marnie Watson(Famke Janssen,sporting a reasonably convincing Brooklyn accent that is subtly played)is being paroled,subject to trial on the murder of her husband,who just happened to be a NYPD Cop. She's been moved to house arrest in the cavernous,Gothic apartment in lower Manhattan,with none other than her dead husband's partner(Bobby Cannavale). As if these elements weren't going to be difficult enough,small other matter arises:namely,the spirit of her dead husband(Michael Pare).
While there are at least a few elements of this story that strain believability(besides the obvious,the victim's partner is in charge of the parole,the fact that a justifiable reason could be made for Marnie's killing her abusive husband,yet she's been practically Hard-fortied come to mind off-hand),this film's economy of characters,very effective usage of steady cam and light,and the willingness to let Miss Janssen--a very game and compelling actress--to have to physically and emotionally command the majority of the show makes this quite compelling.
Veteran writer and director Eric Red has crafted a chilling,reasonably entertaining film that slipped very quietly through the cracks of the movie landscape(a stealthy mid-summer release out of a small studio had this on DVD shelves not long after,it appears). Too many plausibility gaps,and a shifting rationale or explanation of how the dark,violent spirit of her ex make this show not quite high mark,but it still entertains without being TOO manipulative(not to mention not a wit's worth exploitive). Find it on a vid store "regular renters" rack,ask for it at Netflix or buy it off the cheap bin if you enjoy a ghost story with at the heart of a crime thriller(or vice-versa). Good find!
While there are at least a few elements of this story that strain believability(besides the obvious,the victim's partner is in charge of the parole,the fact that a justifiable reason could be made for Marnie's killing her abusive husband,yet she's been practically Hard-fortied come to mind off-hand),this film's economy of characters,very effective usage of steady cam and light,and the willingness to let Miss Janssen--a very game and compelling actress--to have to physically and emotionally command the majority of the show makes this quite compelling.
Veteran writer and director Eric Red has crafted a chilling,reasonably entertaining film that slipped very quietly through the cracks of the movie landscape(a stealthy mid-summer release out of a small studio had this on DVD shelves not long after,it appears). Too many plausibility gaps,and a shifting rationale or explanation of how the dark,violent spirit of her ex make this show not quite high mark,but it still entertains without being TOO manipulative(not to mention not a wit's worth exploitive). Find it on a vid store "regular renters" rack,ask for it at Netflix or buy it off the cheap bin if you enjoy a ghost story with at the heart of a crime thriller(or vice-versa). Good find!