Hide and Seek (2005)

Directed by: John Polson | 100 minutes | drama, horror, thriller | Actors: Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning, Famke Janssen, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Irving, Dylan Baker, Melissa Leo, Robert John Burke, Molly Grant Kallins, David Chandler, Stewart Summers, Jake Dylan Baumer

Playing hide and seek is called Hide and Seek in good English. It’s the favorite game of young Emily, a girl who has been traumatized by her mother’s death and starts to show rather strange tendencies when she bounces back. The title also refers to Emily’s imaginary boyfriend Charlie, who also seems to be hiding somewhere, although it’s not entirely clear where.

‘Hide and Seek’ is a traditional horror film, but brewed according to grandmother’s recipe. An old house in an abandoned environment, mutilated dolls, messages written in blood, a mess of corpses, screeching violins, creepy drawings and local residents who don’t look too fresh either. Add to this dark cellars, dripping taps, doors that squeak and shelves that creak.

Unfortunately in ‘Hide and Seek’ it’s not just the boards that crack, the scenario isn’t exactly of the smoothest kind either. There are quite a few coincidences and improbable acts. The dialogues are neatly arranged but extremely predictable, and that is actually a qualification that applies to the entire film. Anyone who has a bit of a feel for the horror genre knows from the start where everything will turn out and that is a deadly quality for a film that should rely on the unexpected. The few surprises that remain are unceremoniously killed by the music that announces time and again when you are supposed to be startled. Quite nice if you don’t really like the genre, but for the true enthusiast it is enough to make you despondent.

What won’t make anyone groggy is little Dakota Fanning (Emily). She is not only blessed with a beautiful name but also with an enormous acting talent. One moment a creep, the next a touching little girl, and in between a charismatic appearance with way too big eyes. Although the other acting is also perfectly fine, it pales in the performance of little Fanning. The occasional time that the very young actress puts it a little too thick, can be completely written on the account of the screenplay and direction.

In conclusion, ‘Hide and Seek’ has become a not bad anthology from the great book of horror clichés. The real horror fan will not be warm or cold, but an average moviegoer who also wants to see a scary movie (without it getting too creepy) is served with ‘Hide and Seek’ tailor-made. Fans of Robert De Niro can see their idol at work again and for the patriots among us there is an important role for Famke Janssen. We’ll take it for granted that ‘Hide and Seek’ sometimes comes across as a bit uninspired and routine. If only to avoid Charlie’s revenge.