Director Mike Figgis' new thriller, \Cold Creek Manor,"" offers audiences an intriguing premise laden with suspense but fails to deliver a truly bone-chilling movie despite a few commendable points.
Following a family member's close shave with death, the Tilsons, a stressed-out family from New York City, relocate to a small town for some peace and quiet. The family stumbles upon Cold Creek Manor, a run-down mansion on a few acres of farm land, and decide to settle down.
Shortly after they move-in, the family gets a visit from former owner and ex-convict Dale Massie (Stephen Dorff). On a whim, Mr. and Mrs. Tilson (Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone) decide to hire Dale to renovate the house.
This is when all the problems begin. Needless to say, the movie is extremely predictable like many horror movies, and this takes away from its overall appeal.
However, Figgis manages to employ certain techniques to keep audience members awake between the almost nonexistent ""jump in your seat"" scenes. The famous cast is well chosen. Quaid and Stone deliver solid performances as cautious and concerned parents trying to protect their kids. Quaid's role as a concerned father and suspicious filmmaker eclipses Stone's role and has more of an impact on the movie. Dorff, in a very stereotypical role, accurately portrays the creepy, psychotic character of Dale Massie.
Thankfully, the Tilsons do not commit any completely ridiculous actions that lead to a suspenseful scene, which is common in most horror movies. Also, unlike many horror movies that center around an abandoned mansion, there are no computer-generated ""ghosts"" that usually add an unrealistic, comic effect.
The most unique feature of the film is the camera work, especially when it comes to Cold Creek Manor. In one example, the focus shifts from spider webs and wildflowers to the mansion. The artful, distinct camera angles let the audience catch a glimpse of the grandiose mansion while building suspense about where hidden secrets may lie.
Despite these few positive features, the film falls short because the plot is not really a plot but rather a series of actions that can be characterized as ""horror."" The little bit of plot there is ends up being so unrealistic and predictable that it is simply redundant and boring. None of the famous actors, non-cliche scenes or strategic camera shots make the movie worth watching.
