From the Vaults: Mirrors DVD Review

Suspended from his detective position on the force while under investigation for killing someone while on duty, Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) is forced to take a night watchman job in a large, burned out department store. When not at work Ben is staying with , his sister (Amy Smart) and focusing on overcoming his alcohol dependancy and saving his strained marriage. Late at night while making his rounds, Ben begins to hear screaming sounds and see a strange burning woman reflected in the department store’s massive mirrors. At first he thinks that stress is catching up with him but the visions start to escalate and threaten not only Ben but also those he loves.

My first Alex Aja directed movie was the excellent Haute Tension from a few years ago which I loved. I also enjoyed his script for P2 and even his remake of The Hills Have Eyes, so seeing Mirrors was a no brainer for me. Aja does an excellent job of creating a creepy atmosphere in the huge burned out warehouse. He continues that spooky factor with a basic special effect that I always love in having Ben’s son sitting in front of a mirror and then turning away while the reflection turns the opposite direction and glares at Ben’s wife. Spooky and effective. The gore scenes, such as the jaw ripping seen in the trailers are pretty good, although in a few parts the cg is a little blocky. I watched the unrated version which expanded a bit on those effects. I also liked the manifestation of the demon at the end, I though it had a great look to it. I think that Aja could have expounded on the possed mirrors concept a little more than he did. I also felt that having the demons be able to pass through any reflective surface with no explanation was a bit of taking the easy way out instead of setting up more involved scenarios with the mirrors themselves. Overall this is a fun horror film though and although not movie of the year fodder, had enough good things going for it that it is definately worth a watch.

The acting in Mirrors is somewhat average overall, with Sutherland turning in a decent, often overly dramatic performance that is not as good as say, “Flatliners” or “The Vanishing.” I liked Amy Smart as Ben’s sister Angela in her somewhat brief role in the film. The other performance that stood out for me was the role of Anna, the Nun played by Mary Beth Peil.

Although not many bonus features, Behind the Mirror is an excellent featurette on the history of mirrors and their place in superstition. I found it quite entertaining and definately worth a watch. Also included is Reflections:The Making of Mirrors, which is pretty run of the mill as making of features go and the usual assortment of deleted and alternate scenes. Mixed in with the alternate scenes is a second ending that is interesting and worth checking out.

Overall, I had a good time watching Mirrors. Although not a groundbreaking horror epic, this is a fun original movie with some good gore scenes and a creepy atmosphere. I would recommend you start with a rental if you are just a fan of “24? or Keifer Sutherland but if you enjoy horror movies like “Dead Silence” or “Darkness Falls” go ahead and pick Mirrors up.

Recommended

Bonus Features:

Reflections: The Making of Mirrors
Behind the Mirror
Deleted/Alternate Scenes
Mirrors is available now, courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment.

By the way, as of this posting the Blu Ray of Mirrors is available for trade in our forums!

Tags: Alexander Aja, alexander ajas mirrors, Amy Smart, Bulins DVD Reviews, bulins horrror dvd reviews, Cameron Boyce, Erica Gluck, High Tension DVD, Horror DVD Reviews, Keifer Sutherland, Mirrors DVD Review, Paula Patton