MOVIE - WES CRAVEN PRESENTS THEY - Review Rating $$$$$ $ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Laura Regan (Julia Lund), Marc Blucas, Dagmara Dominczyk, Ethan Embry & Jon Abrahams.
DIRECTED BY - Robert Harmon (The Hitcher & Nowhere to Run)
The secret behind childhood night terrors is revealed.
If you were scared of the dark as a child, or continue to be, you may not want to watch "They". The intriguing premise is that night terrors aren't just bad dreams but a prelude to abduction by gremlins (for lack of a better name for the creatures from the dark side).
"They" deserves some credit for trying to scare us without resorting to dismemberment. Unlike Ghost Ship and The Ring there are actually a few instances when you might jump in your seat. These moments occur when everyday objects are cast in a sinister light in the Alfred Hitchcock tradition. The opening sequence for instance, in a child's bedroom, convincingly conveys how an active imagination can turn seemingly comforting surroundings into a demon filled landscape.
The other intriguing aspect of "They" is its psychological component. The introduction of a competing scientific explanation, for what is occurring, is actually a bit daring because it undermines the movie's alternate paranormal explanation.
One other aspect of the story undermines its credibility to some degree. Apparently none of the characters, who are terrified of the dark, have ever heard of Energizer batteries. The script relies on the dying flashlight plot device more often than is advisable.
Laura Regan, an actress with Nova Scotian roots, makes her major motion picture debut. She does a credible job. There is the occasional scene, where a certain inappropriate stiffness surfaces, but for the most part she is more than able to convey her character's transition from normalness to insanity.
One last note. Except for the use of his name as presenter of "They", Wes Craven has nothing to do with this movie (See Greg's Previews).
"They" is fine for "Them" that like scary pictures.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/They-1115907/reviews.php
No Official Website (a bad sign)
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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2003
David Schwartz.
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