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DVD : Half Light |
- Supurb ghost story with style and flair!Half Light is a terrific "sleeper" of a movie and ranks among the best of its' kind with others such as "The Changling" and "Ghost Story". Beautifully done on what seems to be a well-endowed budget, excellent performances by its' actors, a sound track which was originally composed for the movie by a true music composer, and an intriguing storyline, the movie is played out against the background of a Scottish fishing village with a spooky lighthouse as its' focus point. The protagonist, Rachel Carson{played by Demi Moore} is an acclaimed and successful mystery writer who takes up residence in the seaside fishing village to attempt to undo the writer's block which was caused by the untimely and needless death of her only son. Haunting appearances and messages left by her son, a clairvoyant woman who claims to be able to see her dead son walking behind her, and a brief love affair with the young lighthouse keeper whom the townspeople claim had died tragically seven years ago lead Rachel to the conclusion that either she is the subject of some large conspiracy or is losing her mind. The conclusion holds a mixture of conspiracy and actual ghostly intervention. During the course of the story there are plenty of well done and un-telegraphed shocks which remind the viewer of exactly which genre of movie this is, namely a terrific ghost story!
Rating:
- The Ghost And Ms. Moore...Mystery novelist, Rachel Carson (the incredible Demi Moore!) is shattered by the sudden loss of her only son, Thomas. Eight months later, Rachel travels to the small, sea-side town of Ingonish Cove in order to work on a new book. She is also trying to deal w/ the immense guilt and pain she feels for her (perceived) responsibility in her son's death. Odd things begin to occur once Rachel settles into the isolated beach house. She is haunted by dreams and even waking visions of Thomas. Rachel soon finds companionship in a man named Angus who runs a lighthouse on a nearby island. Has this poor woman found happiness at last? Well, nothing is as it appears to be, and Ms. Carson is about to be caught up in a real-life story far more mysterious or suspenseful than any of her novels! HALF LIGHT is a well-constructed, supernatural thriller in the same vein as movies like VOYAGE INTO FEAR. I like being wrong when I think I've solved the mystery early on. This time, I was completely off! I wish Demi Moore made more movies, especially of this type...
Rating:
- A poignant little gemTrue, aspects of the plot have been 'borrowed' from 'Gaslight' and 'The Wicker Man' with explicit homage to Hitchock but give me an example of a plot line that is not derivative these days...
I suspended my critical faculties, regarded it as a romantic thriller and know what ? I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The plot is suffused with an elegiac feel in keeping with a sub text of loss (and ultimately, reconciliation). Production values are very high (apart from one sequence featuring an unconvincing panorama of a cgi lighthouse. The actual lighthouse only has one storey. Filmed in Anglesey but set in the western highlands of Scotland using an authentic Scottish cast. The celtic influenced score greatly enhances the film, adding most effectively to the the sense of mood, menace and milieu. Demi Moore gives a convincing central performance, Hans Matheson ably teases out the facets of his complex character/s.
The plot structure is wreathed by supernatural overtones and an air of impending threat hovers over the tale as vulnerable Rachel battles guilt over the death of her son. But whence does the threat emanate ?
Who, or what, is behind the ghostly warnings and portents ?
Her jealous ex husband ? the local villagers ? the wraith of her drowned son ? the mysterious lighthouse keeper Angus, with whom she enjoys some fleeting hours of comfort ? Rachel's literary agent ?
or is it all of them ?
Watch the DVD and find out!
All told, its a poignant little gem which deserved a much wider release.
Rating:
- I DON'T THINK SOI liked the cinematography but the movie as a whole, in my opinion, is just another Demi Moore stinker. As a mother myself I was appalled at the lack of emotion the mother (Ms. Moore) demonstrated at the loss of her only son. And to get into a love relationship shortly thereafter? A real mother in the same situation would be completely immobilized. The devastation from losing a child would be heart-breaking and of long duration. It would rule your every waking moment for years. I felt none of this from Demi Moore's character or the movie. In a film, it is difficult to successfully combine the plot of the loss of a child with sex and suspense. In "Halflight" it certainly doesn't work.
Demi Moore is quite pretty in the film and the scenery is charming. It's an interesting little film about intrigue, but it disappointed me on the one important level. Because of that I found Demi Moore's character to be unsympathetic and unbelievable.
Rent, don't buy.
Rating:
- Some what like a Hitchcock movieCaught a portion of this movie on Korean TV, with Hangul (Korean) sub-titles, got interested and ordered DVD. Nice movie, plot within a plot within a plot. Final scenes have a twisted ending. Would recommend it on a stormy night with a friend. I liked it so much I have loaned it-out, and no one was disappointed. To be candid I must have missed it when it first came out, Demi Moore does a pretty good job with her character.
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