I admit it up front; this movie is a total loss for anyone expecting any sort of quality entertainment. I can't really find too much fault with the cast. I mean, there was no overacting among the major roles, and acting restraint never descended into reading-by-cue-cards. I guess it was the script -- or lack thereof.
I see some of my other epinionators making the obvious connection between this movie and Rosemary's Baby, which is both legitimate and logical. The major difference is that Jillian (Charlize Theron) hasn't been drugged into impregnation by the Devil. In this case, she has been impregnated by her Alien-possessed husband. Oh, well, not that much difference after all.
It is disappointing to consider the quality of the cast and then have to consider the quality of the movie. The main character, Spencer Armacost, is played by perhaps the most accomplished and most versatile of the younger leading men in Hollywood today -- Johnny Depp. When you look at the range of roles he has played, and the depth of character he has evoked in each of them -- including this one.
This is where the flaws in the script begin appearing, since Depp was credible as the newly returned Astronaut, credible as the man dealing with unknown experiences while in space, credible as a man who has to see his closest friend and fellow astronaut crumble under the weight of the same experiences. He then completely changed character (without being given an adequate opportunity to show the possession developing into its final evil) and became the total villain.
It is this ultimate villain who, through the unborn twins he has planted in his wife, "sees what she sees, know what she knows." Oh, yeah?
Here again, the script breaks down. Although he is supposed to know what she knows, he doesn't know about the abortion drug until later. He knows where she is supposed to meet the man from NASA, but didn't know when she first met him again. There are just too many holes to hold water - especially the climactic deluge.
Oh, well, Depp performed as well as he could with what he had to work with. Ms Theron was competent and credible in the title role. The supporting roles were solid, including such respected names as Nick Cassavetes, Samantha Eggar, Blair Brown, and Tom Noonan. Unfortunately, none of these competent actors had much to work with in the way of script.
What there was in story-line reminded me more of Fallen with Denzel Washington. There, too, there was mobile demonic possession which transferred to others at the whim of the demon or at the moment of death of the host. There was a lot of rememberance going on as I watched this movie and associated the names of the actors with other films. It was John Cassavetes who betrayed Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby, and Samantha Eggar had her problems in The Brood. Blair Brown did the weirdness thing in Altered States with William Heard, and Tom Noonan played a psycopathic killer in Manhunter which was the original film version of Hannibal 'Lektor's' debut in The Red Dragon. In this case, however, none of them had a chance.
Now, why then should I allow you to call me stupid? Well, the reason is that I totally shut down all objections and criticisms, focused on Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron, and - amaze, amaze - was actually able to enjoy watching it. Don't get me wrong. I certainly wouldn't sit through it again, and wouldn't be foolish enough to recommend it to any of my friends. At the same time, if you are capable of of such withdrawal from reality, you might even enjoy it yourself. Remember, I only said might!
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