"100 Feet" had been on my radar for some time, mainly because of director Eric Red being at the helm of this project. Perhaps his comeback film, one could say. The man already wrote great scripts for 80's genre hits like Robert Harmon's "The Hitcher" and Kathryn Bigelow's "Near Dark". During the 90's he directed two notable genre films, the psychologically tinted thriller/horror hybrid "Body Parts" and that one little werewolf film that sort of stood out during the 90's, "Bad Moon". Very likely no masterpieces, but they left a pleasant aftertaste and above all, they are well made and showed promise for future work as a director. And then... it got a little quiet surrounding Eric Red. So in a way, "100 Feet" might be considered to be his comeback movie. It sure got me interested, especially after glimpsing at the trailer. And the fact that Famke Janssen was taking on the leading role, didn't hurt at all either.
So yes, I really wanted to like 100 Feet, and well,... I really liked it! It's a bit of a sober film, really, with a one-house setting and not much characters running around in it. But every character does bring his weight to it. Also, it's a unique angle for a ghost story, with Famke's character not being able to leave her haunted house (you know that from the start of the film). Ms. Janssen gives a fine performance (funny thing, I think I actually spotted a Dutch accent for the first time ever), the film has the right tone & atmosphere (at least for me it worked fine) and looks really good. There's a bit of ghostly CGI that perhaps could have been better (or maybe I should say: could've been handled differently, as it's more of a choice of how they wanted it to look, not really a case of ineptness). It's not a fast-paced film, but it works for the better this way, and believe me... there's one scene that will take you by surprise. Unexpected, and so bloody and so brutal, it'll have you hit that rewind button on your remote. Maybe the film will play out, in the end, just like you'd expect it to. Or maybe not. I just hope it won't disappoint you at any rate. Just go rent it. It's much better than most of the direct-to-DVD stuff coming out these days. I'm always sad when a film like this doesn't make it to theaters in our country (but it's also obvious that it doesn't stand a chance over here). This just got me thinking of David Fincher's "Panic Room", actually, because of its similar setting. "Panic Room" did get a theatrical release over here, naturally, and I hold "100 Feet" about on par with it (well, maybe not exactly on par as a film, but as a "horror equivalent", yes). So you just decide for yourself whether you think you're going to like this film or not.
So yes, I really wanted to like 100 Feet, and well,... I really liked it! It's a bit of a sober film, really, with a one-house setting and not much characters running around in it. But every character does bring his weight to it. Also, it's a unique angle for a ghost story, with Famke's character not being able to leave her haunted house (you know that from the start of the film). Ms. Janssen gives a fine performance (funny thing, I think I actually spotted a Dutch accent for the first time ever), the film has the right tone & atmosphere (at least for me it worked fine) and looks really good. There's a bit of ghostly CGI that perhaps could have been better (or maybe I should say: could've been handled differently, as it's more of a choice of how they wanted it to look, not really a case of ineptness). It's not a fast-paced film, but it works for the better this way, and believe me... there's one scene that will take you by surprise. Unexpected, and so bloody and so brutal, it'll have you hit that rewind button on your remote. Maybe the film will play out, in the end, just like you'd expect it to. Or maybe not. I just hope it won't disappoint you at any rate. Just go rent it. It's much better than most of the direct-to-DVD stuff coming out these days. I'm always sad when a film like this doesn't make it to theaters in our country (but it's also obvious that it doesn't stand a chance over here). This just got me thinking of David Fincher's "Panic Room", actually, because of its similar setting. "Panic Room" did get a theatrical release over here, naturally, and I hold "100 Feet" about on par with it (well, maybe not exactly on par as a film, but as a "horror equivalent", yes). So you just decide for yourself whether you think you're going to like this film or not.