Friday, March 25, 2011
Michael Allen
Director/writer: Antti Jokinen.
United Kingdom distribution company Hammer Films is set to release its second film in thirty years, The Resident. Other films are to follow, including Wakewood and The Resident is to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray formats March 29th. The latest from Hammer Films stars Academy Award winner Hilary Swank (Insomnia) as Juliet Devereau, Christopher Lee (Season of the Witch) and Jeffery Dean Morgan (Watchmen), in a tightly wound thriller. The Resident is a study in voyeurism, as one landlord takes his privileges much too far. The result is one part mystery, a second part action thriller, and a third part horror. All of these elements come together in a mostly satisfying time, looking through the eyes of a very ill and deranged villain.
Juliet (Swank) moves into a relatively cheap apartment on the shore of the East River, in New York (apparently $3800/month is cheap in New York). Her new landlord is very charming, as Juliet recovers from the shock of a cheating boyfriend (Lee Pace). Soon, Juliet is waking up late for her work as an emergency room attendant, with several bad drug hangovers. Later, a hidden camera is installed on reasonable suspicions and the central protagonist sees horrors, the likes of which will not be repeated here.
Hammer Films has been in the filmmaking business since the 1930s and actor Christopher Lee's relationship with this film production and distribution company is going on 55 years. In this latest venture, Lee is mostly a sidebar, unlike some of his previous films. He is used early as a red herring to confuse the villain's identity, while later he offers some background on one very tormented caretaker.
The most disturbing and complex character is Max played by Morgan. Losing his family at an early age through inter-familial violence has left in its wake a shell of a man. Lonely, off-kilter and seeking female companionship, Max goes to great lengths to satisfy his social and sexual desires. Unfortunately, the object of his desire does not reciprocate his advancements; chaos ensues.
The climax of the film will be left to the reader's imaginations, but The Resident does follow some typical thriller formulas e.g. tension built through hidden identities. However, this film does offer one interesting concept for viewers, on the subject of voyeurism. When you are watching a man prepare to masturbate in another's bathtub, you begin to feel like a voyeur yourself. Director Antti Jokinen also uses camera angles that puts the movie watcher firmly in the perspective of the antagonist. So who is the voyeur? Or, who is the villain? Is it the landlord, who looks through peepholes, or the viewer, watching another act out sick perversions? The answer depends on the viewer.
This film was made for close to $20 million dollars and the prospects of Hammer Films making this investment back on The Resident are almost insurmountable. DVD and Blu-Ray sales are down through 2010-11 Yet, The Resident is a fascinating time, spent looking awkwardly through peepholes and into the mind of a immature antagonist. Just do not stare too long, or you might feel like a voyeur yourself.
Overall: 6.75 out of 10 (short runtime, good acting, some strange and confusing scenes at the midpoint).
*The Resident had a limited theatrical showing in the UK March 11th.
**Influenced by The Tenant (1976), from director Roman Polanski.
Visit Hammer Films for more info' on this and other film projects:
The Resident at Hammer Films
Become a fan of the film on Facebook:
The Resident on Facebook
A second review of this title at Sky, by Tim Evans:
The Resident Review at Sky
The Resident is available March 29th, through Amazon:
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Posted in: christopher lee,hammer films,hilary swank,jeffery dean morgan,movie review,mystery,peeping tom,suspense,the resident,thriller,thriller movie review 2011,voyeur
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