Walled In (2009)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Gilles Paquet-Brenner

Writers:

Serge Brussolo (novel)
Rodolphe Tissot (written by) ...

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (Mexico)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A demolition company agent uncovers the horrifying secrets held within a building she's having razed.

Plot Keywords:

Building | Demolition | Tenant | Caretaker | Architect

Cast

Mischa Barton	...	Sam Walczak
Cameron Bright	...	Jimmy
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Mary
Noam Jenkins	...	Peter
Eugene Clark	...	Burnett
Tim Allen	...	Police Offucer (as Timothy Allen)
Darla Biccum	...	Liz Walczak
Mark Claxton	...	Richard
Shannon Jardine	...	Maureen
Sophi Knight	...	Julie
Taylor Leslie	...	Lucy Walczak
Emily McAfee	...	Young Sam
Jane Redlyon	...	Denise
Rob Roy	...	Charles Walczak
Josh Strait	...	Vincent Walczak

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

Argentina:91 min | Germany:100 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA | France | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:16 | Mexico:B15 | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Company:

Experiences Films

Trivia:

The glowing symbol in the building lobby, made up of solid and broken lines, is the I Ching hexagram for Persevering. It is made by combining the symbols for Thunder and Wind.

Quotes:

Jimmy: How do you know when someone really loves you?
Mary: That girl really had an effect on you, didn't she?
Jimmy: Tell me.
Mary: When you're willing to sacrifice everything for someone. There's no great love without it.

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Pleasant Surprise

I rented this movie yesterday and really didn't expect much to be honest. Many current horror titles are very uninspired and frankly rely too much on gore and not enough on story or atmosphere. I was surprised though, it was an engaging story, taking inspiration for Poe perhaps, Agento and others which isn't a bad thing, and actually keeping a sense of its own identity and style. I love horror movies, especially ones that rely more on imagination and atmosphere, this one does to an extent but then focuses on the human element and becomes more of a thriller, in this I felt a little cheated.

The building which is the object of the movie is simply a nice piece of Gothic, deco art. Sinister and yet elegant in its simplicity, huge and monstrous in its presence. The premise works in the beginning and the actors do not disappoint. It is suggestion that works here as well as a psychological drama that is as twisted as an abnormal Mother and son relationship and dark secrets of the past mingled with arcane knowledge of the architecture of forbidden temples. Sadly though, I wished for more emphasis on the later aspect, it held my interest and fascination, but it veered into a film about a demented teenage crush. If more time had been spent on the architect, his history and theories as well as the previous murders then the chill factor would have been amped up.

The building should have been the real star here and its creator and to a large extent it is, yet it slowly is pushed into the background and dwarfed by a teenager's obsession and some of the dwellings rather seemed to be almost inconsistent in their art direction. The inhabited dwellings almost seemed cheap, bland compared to the overall presence of the building. It caused a sense of confusion, perhaps intentional.

Enjoyable yet flawed and could have been developed into a much richer film. It is still a fun view. I hope the director continues with the genre, though this film has its flaws, the director has potential.