The Broken is probably the best reviewed movie to come out of this year’s Horrorfest. By best reviewed movie I mean better than average. However, once you start reading the reviews you find that people fall into either one of two categories. Either they loved it or they hated it. Unfortunately for me I fall into the latter and had a real hard time getting through the entire movie. The only thing that keep me going was that I wanted to get some answers, but they never came. In the end, the viewer is left to figure out the movie on their own, which is not always a bad thing, however, The Broken, doesn’t give us enough content or interest to make it thought provoking.
In The Broken, Gina McVey (Lena Headey) is a radiologist who encounters her doppelganger. The doppelgangers for her family and friends begin to show up after they attend a dinner party at her father’s, John McVey (Richard Jenkins), house and a mirror breaks for no apparent reason. The doppelgangers true meaning are left for the view to decipher for themselves, since director Sean Ellis leaves only a few clues. Sean leads us down the path thinking he will unravel the mysterious but all a long sets up the viewer for a twist many will see coming a mile away.
But the worst crime Sean Ellis commits is focusing on meaningless shots trying to draw some artistic aspect out of them. The soundtrack is an equal offender, which cranks up to loud annoying levels when there is noting happening on the screen. Did I miss something or is this the work of an amateur. The only thing worth watching he is the cast and both Lene Headey and Richard Jenkins gave great performances.
Review By Brad Peterson
Release Date: March 31, 2009
