Deadline (I) (2009)

A screenwriter who travels to an abandoned house to finish a script on time, but a series of strange events lead her to a psychological breakdown.

Director:

Sean McConville

Writer:

Sean McConville

Stars:

Brittany Murphy, Thora Birch, Tammy Blanchard

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brittany Murphy	...	Alice
Thora Birch	...	Lucy
Tammy Blanchard	...	Rebecca
Marc Blucas	...	David
Claudia Troll	...	David's Mother
Michael Piscitelli	...	Ben's Voice (voice)

Storyline

Alice, 32, a writer recovering from a psychological breakdown retreats to a remote Victorian house to convalesce and focus on finishing her screenplay in time for a fast approaching deadline. Shortly after her arrival, mysterious noises and strange happenings cause her imagination to run wild, sending her on a twisting and terrifying pursuit to find out what is behind the endless mind games. Frightened but intrigued, Alice gathers the courage to go down into the cold, dingy attic where she finds a shoe box filled with mini-dv tapes. The terrifying secret that lies within the tapes will unravel Alice's dark past.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | bathtub | female writer | mental breakdown | camera focus on female butt | 

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Taglines:

Focus your fear.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 2010 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Apariciones extrañas

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

KRU Studios, Enso Entertainment, Films In Motion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 89 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

A very, very unfair and unjust low score for this film...

Okay, this is very simple...

First off, if really slow, atmospheric films that don't have a lot of action bore you, then this movie is NOT for you! Period. All you hafta do is see the review here titled 'Snoozer, with a Stupid Ending' Point proved (well, at least if not actually 'proved', strongly suggested : ) Here is the deal; IF you are indeed gonna make one of these really slow, moody films that on the surface come across as super simple, THEN you HAVE to do them well or forget it. The movie was beautifully photographed, VERY well paced for the material, and the acting was excellent. Do you realize how fr i gg'n MANY ways there are to screw something like this up?!! A lot! So, all truly was done very well.

Now, without spoiling anything, I just wanna say that something that I really appreciated about this film is that this 'kind' of movie (which you will understand, sort of, at the end) USUALLY is very heavy handed with the 'reveal' in the sense that they usually make it blindingly obvious. However, what I like about this one is that at the end, yes, something is strongly suggested, BUT still, things are left to be interpreted in a number of different ways (as clearly seen in some of the discussion comments below which you should absolutely NOT read before seeing the movie!) So, basically like I said, it's REAL simple...

IF you like this kind of very slow, moody film where there is a very good atmosphere built up gradually and a good mystery created, and you don't necessarily NEED a lot of action or explanation, and you can just simply ENJOY the experience as it is done very well, THEN yes, you should enjoy this film...

It just isn't for everyone, that's all. For example, I'm quite sure that there are MANY people who absolutely LOVE the 'SAW' films (or at least the first one or two) Quite the polar opposite of this film to be sure. I hated it, BUT, I could appreciate that it was very clever and well made IF you like that kind of film. I most certainly do NOT!!! So, in that case I wouldn't feel right reviewing that film because it just is completely NOT the kind of film that I like at all. (However, the makers of 'SAW' went on to make a couple of excellent Horror films, where people are NOT tortured or forced to do awful things, that I totally loved! ['DEAD SILENCE' & 'INSIDIOUS']) Same with this one... Likely, MOST of the people who have seen this movie and then come here and say 'Gee, that was REALLY stupid and boring' would fall into the same category in my lowly and wretched opinion.

The movie isn't WILDLY fantastic or anything, just solidly well made; as a matter of fact, it really reminds me of another VERY similar film that I saw not long ago (I can't remember the title right off) But it was WAAAAAAAY more subtle than this one! It was similar where a woman (seemed like it was a REALLY well known actress too, perhaps Marisa Tomei, someone like that...) was staying in a remote house. And you just keep seeing this guy standing there in the room with her but she doesn't see him; there are LONG periods without ANY dialog at all. It just about ALL is based on mood and atmosphere. It was great too, but perhaps much more 'artistic' in it's approach and a bit more complex and layered in it's story than this one. This one here I would say was more directly psychological...

The movie is indeed much, MUCH better than it's current 4.x rating...