Originally published 4/10/10 in The Mancunion
4 Stars
Ryan Reynolds in a box; essentially every girl's dream present, and every companies dream product right? Well, Spanish director Rodrigo Cortes obviously thought so when he cast the rom-com star as our main, well, really our only character.
Beginning his foray into action a couple of years ago, and with flicks like Smoking Aces (2006) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) under his belt, Reynolds amps up the volume with this chilling thriller. Reynolds plays Paul Conroy; a blue-collar, family-orientated nobody who, after a rather monumental stroke of bad luck, becomes a political prisoner. The film begins with Conroy waking up in a box. Well, a coffin to be exact, and he's not alone. The kidnapper has kindly left him a few knick-knacks; a mobile phone, a lighter, and about 90 minutes of breathable air. Just what you need when you've been buried alive.
Reynold takes the full weight of this film on his perfectly-formed shoulders; it's simple really, if his acting isn't up to scratch then the film will fail, no pressure hey? Luckily he manages to deliver. Claustrophobically, the film is shot entirely in the coffin, Cortes makes use of interesting angles to set the viewer's nerves on edge; suddenly the cinema is your coffin and you're in there with Conroy, waiting for time to tick down, and the air to run out.
Verdict: Not for the faint-hearted, this bold thriller uses psychological prowess rather than gore to a horrifying effect. Reynolds, a strong lead, shows that he has skills beyond his usual cheeky grin and all-American, boyish good looks, creating enough tension to unsettle even then most relaxed viewer.
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| "Did I remember to turn the oven off?" |
4 Stars
Ryan Reynolds in a box; essentially every girl's dream present, and every companies dream product right? Well, Spanish director Rodrigo Cortes obviously thought so when he cast the rom-com star as our main, well, really our only character.
Beginning his foray into action a couple of years ago, and with flicks like Smoking Aces (2006) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) under his belt, Reynolds amps up the volume with this chilling thriller. Reynolds plays Paul Conroy; a blue-collar, family-orientated nobody who, after a rather monumental stroke of bad luck, becomes a political prisoner. The film begins with Conroy waking up in a box. Well, a coffin to be exact, and he's not alone. The kidnapper has kindly left him a few knick-knacks; a mobile phone, a lighter, and about 90 minutes of breathable air. Just what you need when you've been buried alive.
Reynold takes the full weight of this film on his perfectly-formed shoulders; it's simple really, if his acting isn't up to scratch then the film will fail, no pressure hey? Luckily he manages to deliver. Claustrophobically, the film is shot entirely in the coffin, Cortes makes use of interesting angles to set the viewer's nerves on edge; suddenly the cinema is your coffin and you're in there with Conroy, waiting for time to tick down, and the air to run out.
Verdict: Not for the faint-hearted, this bold thriller uses psychological prowess rather than gore to a horrifying effect. Reynolds, a strong lead, shows that he has skills beyond his usual cheeky grin and all-American, boyish good looks, creating enough tension to unsettle even then most relaxed viewer.
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