Really? I mean really? So much effort went into the effort of creating suspense and some really thrilling moments. Nothing scary but it is enough to be disturbing and engaging. All the time the options run through your head. Is it really supernatural or are we going to have a psychotic villain? If it is supernatural, what the hell are we dealing with? Until the professor (Noah Taylor) comes up with the explanation, the movie was promising. Then it went downhill so fast I couldn’t believe Kevin Costner took the role.
Sorry, I am getting carried away. Let me give you the plot first and then keep on ranting:
John James (Kevin Costner) is a newly divorced father/writer who moves his kids- teenage daughter Louisa (Ivana Baquero) and little boy Sam (Gattlin Griffith)- to a rural area. It’s supposed to be a fresh start in a new house. However, from the moment they move in, something is always off. Since the daughter is a teenager abondoned by her mother, you need to keep guessing how much of the events is because of hormones/depression/rebellion and how much is horror/thriller material. Then there is a mould in the yard…The film gets an additional character as the children’s new teacher, Cassandra (Samantha Mathis). With a little crush on the dad/the author, she tries to help out the family. But of course, just like any thrill/horror, no amount of emotional support or guidance won’t just cut it.
Suspense-building is good. Tension-creating is good. The acting is OK. The daughter’s lines do get won’t go to waste. But it does. What starts as a promising movie that makes you think why it got a 5.4. on IMDB (and not a 6 or a 7), ends up being a movie that ends up being extremely overrated.
It does remind you a little of Signs and not in a good way. I realized I wasn’t the only one thinking it when I saw a user also made a comparison. The difference is, I think this movie was just as disappointing as Signs.
If you absolutely must watch this movie, just make sure you expect normally until the last 25-30 minutes or so. After that, keep your expectations very,very low and leave your sense of aesthetics completely. And a little spoiler: The very,very final scene may not be what you expect. I am not sure if it is good news or bad news.
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I’d love to see this movie, before judging, though it sounds very interesting. It is a shame you did not like Signs… it’s one of my favourites. I believe that I liked Signs, because I did not expect too much from the movie. I never do, just to avoid disappointments.
The problem with the Signs is that I felt it promised to be a sophisticated movie or at least a pleasantly surprising thriller but those green aliens we have been seeing for years in movies for decades really turned me off. I really did expect a lot from that movie, since Mel Gibson is my favorite actor and Joaquin Phoenix is also a terrific actor. I was really disappointed in the end. I am guessing there is a chance you might like The New Daughter if you enjoyed Signs and it is a great thing to keep your expectations low. But the thing is even though Kevin Costner has made his share of bad movies (Waterworld, for a start), he has also made amazing movies such as A Perfect World and The War. He has also made really entertaining movies such as Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, No Way Out, Swing Vote, Revenge, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Mr. Brooks and so on. So since he is one of my favorite entertainers and a family crush (my mother and my grandmother love the guy too), I do expect good time. And this movie gives just that…until the last 30 minutes. But please let me know what you think afterwards as well:)
How do you feel about Costner as an actor in general?
I think Kevin Costner is a marvellous actor, though, he’s not one of my favourites.
He’s very entertaining and also handsome…I admire him a lot.
About the movie, I have to agree with you. I couldn’t make up my mind if it’s a horror movie or a psychological drama…Thus, if it’s supernatural, it lacks of a really good explanation… I would rate it 4.5.
Glad we agree on everything:)
I guess even though I am a fan, he wouldn’t be in my top 5 or even top 10 favorite actors. But he is probably in my top 20-25 actors and
entertainers. However, I think he has a lot to learn from Tom Cruise and Nicholas Cage when it comes to picking his scripts. What do you think?:)
He certainly is in my top 20-25 actors !!!
Yes, I totally agree…he’s not good on picking up scripts. What a waste !!!
My top 10 list is: Karl Urban, Patrick Stewart; Denzel Washington; Nicolas Cage; Brad Pitt (he was out of my list, but he’s back since Benjamin Button); Ralph Fiennes; Leonardo DiCaprio; Harrison Ford; Mel Gibson; Will Smith.
N.1 and 2 in the list never change position; though it may change for the rest of them…
:)))
I really want to be that guy’s agent-both for picking decent scripts and marketing them!
But where is Simon Baker? Along with Kevin?
Let me see my list: Mel Gibson, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Nicholas Cage, Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler, Clive Owen, Edward Norton and I am not sure who the other one is…might be a match between Ralph Fiennes and Denzel Washington:)
I love too many actors…cannot put them all in the Top 10 list !!
There’s also Keanu Reeves, Simon Baker, Val Kilmer, Daniel Day-Lewis, Heath Ledger, James McAvoy, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and many many others… 🙂
The Top 10 list are for the actors that I consider the best ! Daniel Day-Lewis should be in my Top 10 list, even though he’s not one of favourites. So should Tom Hanks, especially because he’s one of my favourites !!!
I know it is so hard! There is also Michael J. Fox, Jim Carrey and Jack Nicholson for me. I am not mentioning Simon or Val or Daniel because you have and you know I love them:) Oh, James McAvoy was fantastic in The Last King of Scotland, Penelope and Becoming Jane. Heath Ledger is great and while we are at it, Jake Gyllenhaal, Johnny Depp and Liam Neeson are awesome as well. There is no way top 10 or even 20 can cover them all;)
The thing is, I think I picked my top 10 actors/entertainers according to the number of movies of theirs I adore. For instance I like only half of Johnny Depp’s movies whereas there are only a couple Keanu or Mel movies I don’t like;) John Travolta and Nicholas Cage made some of my favorite movies of alll times and they are in one together.
I haven’t seen The Last King of Scotland and Penelope (this one I’m very curious about…); Becoming Jane is simply wonderful !!!
If you haven’t seen, I would suggest “Wanted”…I became a fan with this film. And don’t forget to mention James, when you make that article about actors and actresses of my generation…please 🙂
Yes, Liam Neeson is definitely in my list. So is Johnny Depp and Jake Gyllenhaall.