My review of this film is not that of a professional film critic, but rather an average viewer not looking to dissect the film stock, directing, etc.. While it was not the perfect film, it was damn close. I will refrain from spoiling the plot with excessive detail, though I am very tempted, as it's quite apparent that some here (1 out of 10) simply did not understand what happened in this film. (To that person, I say stick to Scooby Doo, where they explain it all at the end.) While some may have been put off by the low-budget appearance of the film, I simply don't get this argument. I saw nothing that detracted from the story. The filming never bothered me. The acting was superb. The filming style and the lackluster appearance were perfect for this type of storytelling. This movie did not require lavish scenes, nor great special effects. Simply put, this was a great story told through visual medium.
I'll admit that the movie does start slowly, but it sucked me in rather quickly. Initially, it had the familiar feel of another "twisted to be twisted" film. I'll say that did not subside for quite some time, but in this case, it really, really worked. Instead of being put off, I found myself to be more intrigued. This can be credited to great shot sequence and outstanding acting by Paul. I became as lost as the main character. I wondered after clues as to what might be real and imagined. In short, I took the ride that our main character did. This is truly rare for me in today's cinema! My only complaints would be with a few of the minor characters. A few of them came off as a bit cliché. The story called for this, but I felt it wasn't done quite well enough to make me forget that people like this really do exist. This may have been the "low budget" feel that some have pointed out. This is a very minor complaint; one more in hindsight rather than anything that distracted me from the story.
Finally, the summation brought things into a nice (if subdued) clarity. It wasn't the abstract ending that I usually hate in a film that starts off so surreally. It made sense. I got it (and slightly ahead of the reveal). Story-wise, it was a great answer. Plot-wise, I would have fleshed the ending out just a bit more. It felt a little rushed.
Again, this was a fantastic film that I look forward to watching again. Perhaps, my subsequent viewing will give way to my notice of some of the flaws that may exist. However, nothing will take away from the fact that my first viewing was refreshingly and unexpectedly great. Kudos to all of those involved!
