Well-known in Asia for their scream-inducing movies, the Pang brothers' ""The Messengers"" is their first foray as directors in American cinema. The result is a run-of-the-mill horror movie with a rather surprising but unconvincing twist that leaves the viewer wondering exactly happened at the end.
The story begins with the Solomon family moving into an old farmhouse in a sleepy North Dakota town. Soon, strange things occur, such as a persistent stain on a wall and the bizarre behavior of a flock of crows that is reminiscent of Hitchcock's ""The Birds."" The youngest child, Ben, is fascinated by creatures only he can see which roam the house—spindly, animal-like figures that scale the walls and ceilings. His sister Jess, the misunderstood teenager, is hounded by shocking moments of hands grasping at her and images of a struggle that occurred in the house. When her parents don't believe her claims, she confides in the farm help, who provides a listening ear.
The story is a solid horror movie with split-second shocking moments, fake scares and bad jokes meant to break the tension. Ben's placid gaze at the horrific figures who scamper throughout the house is alarming and the continual presence of crows is unnerving. In this way, suspense and mystery is continually and successfully built upon.
The movie ends with an unexpected though anti-climactic conclusion. In contrast to the steady development of the movies opening, the ending felt abrupt and rushed. A more developed conclusion would have yielded a much more engrossing movie that could have set the story apart from being the formulated one that it is. Many moments of the film looked like they had been copied directly from successful horror films such as ""The Sixth Sense"" and ""The Amityville Horror."" While the meshing of these storylines was seamless, the movie severely lacked originality.
Despite the less than captivating storyline, the striking visuals are worthy of recognition. Gray hands grasping and grabbing at Jess as she stands still, too scared to move, provide a powerful image that is sure to stay in the minds of viewers. Again, the stark presence of crows at various points in the movie serves to emphasize the tense and fearful atmosphere that acts as a foundation for the movies setting.
Also noteworthy is Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Jess. She superbly conveys the frustration and horror her character deals with. Indeed, her acting contributes greatly to the storyline and she underscores the narrative with her strong performance.
The movie is perfect for those who want a traditional horror flick because it offers all the typical horror elements: an isolated house, unexplainable occurrences and mysterious characters. However, if you are looking for a good quality narrative, ""The Messengers"" falls short of providing an engrossing storyline and ultimately leaves the viewer with a sense of dAcjA vu.
