Mirrors (2008)

Directed by: Alexandre Aja | 111 minutes | horror | Actors: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Cameron Boyce, Erica Gluck, Amy Smart, Mary Beth Peil, John Shrapnel, Jason Flemyng, Tim Ahern, Julian Glover, Josh Cole, Ezra Buzzington, Ioana Abur, Aida Doina, Darren Kent, Roz McCutcheon , Adina Rapitanu

At first sight ‘Mirrors’ contains all the ingredients for a successful horror film. An interesting concept, based on the Korean thriller ‘Into the Mirror’. A director with a sense of gore scenes (Alexandre Aja, ‘The Hills Have Eyes’). A blackened department store from the fifties as an attractive decor. And a protagonist who, after seven seasons of ’24’, can play the role of a disgraced government official with his eyes closed. Yet the end result is nothing more than mediocre.

The basic idea of ​​’Mirrors’ is initially reminiscent of ‘1408’: a man with a tragic past enters the building and comes face to face with his demons. Appearances are deceiving. The storyline about Carson’s shooting incident initially seems to offer clues, but in the second half of the film it hangs like a frayed piece of rope; like it never mattered much. Also in terms of tension, Aja destroys what he first carefully built up. At first, Carson’s experiences with the mirror world are pleasantly subtle. Then the director opens a can of horror clichés, of which only a few (and in particular one unsavory scene) hit the mark. The rest is not very impressive.

With consistency, the scenario doesn’t take it too seriously. The threat of the mirrors in the department store spreads to all mirrored surfaces and not only Carson, but also people around him fall prey to it. Even bath water and shiny doorknobs are dirty. Fortunately, this problem can easily be solved with a bucket of green latex and a paintbrush. The scene in which Sutherland is making sauces as if his life depended on it inadvertently makes you laugh. Also causing a chuckle is Aja’s decision to cycle an inbred family into the story. As if he just couldn’t resist after ‘The Hills Have Eyes’.

Another weakness of the film is the casting of the supporting roles. Sutherland can look excellent as if he is having a hard time, but his concerned wife is not convincing. Paula Patton is beautiful and young as befits a cinematographer, but there is no spark. That is a loss, because the only thing that drives the fallen Carson is his family. The spouses are indeed divorced, but you can’t imagine that they ever had a cozy time together. There is no chemistry with the kids either. You also shrug your shoulders when mother, son and daughter Carson have to fight for their lives in a flooded (and therefore reflective, get it?) house. Fascinate that family, shame about that beautiful parquet floor!

The nicely worked out twist at the end makes up for the disappointing build-up. It is not enough. ‘Mirrors’ isn’t bad, but could and should have been a better movie.