8/10
See It For Yourself!
30 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this on Netflix, I almost didn't as it was only rated 2 and a half stars, then it averaged just 4 here. The plot seemed interesting with two respected lead actors. Maybe the plot was done before, either natural or in supernatural form. There are a lot of movies using that voyeuristic home video look comprised mainly from the watcher's cameras point of views.

This one was different, being something that could very well happen in real life showing how easily lives can be unraveled by a total stranger. Just seeing how possible it is made it way scarier than the "paranormal" or "crime footage" attempts done to death. As others have mentioned, it's the unknown that makes this movie scary and interesting.

Oh yes, done before but what hasn't? It's not a recycled comic strip or classic movie remade, therefore for those reasons alone it contains an original advantage over re-boots. It also proves that a movie doesn't need extreme gore or violence to grab your attention just as much. There's also no nudity or unnecessary language. Perhaps that could very well be the reason for the low marks as some people may have expected that. There are no out of sync scenes, production gimmicks or flashbacks; it starts and ends in order.

I think this movie well deserves a fair watch but the real surprise to me was its classic way of still giving you chills and maybe forcing you to leave (or not leave) a light on after you see it.

Nick Stahl is fantastic and is one of the most underrated actors out there and I have no idea what the complaints are about. It's very well acted and is portrayed as realistic as anyone in his character's situation. Basically the movie focuses on Stahl's character, not so much the villain or victim, because he is just as much the victim and the one psychologically tortured to the breaking point.

SPOILER----> I would have liked a better ending but that too adds to the movie's realism of something very possible in real life going on under our noses, in our own neighborhoods and towns.
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