Hide and seek

John Polson 2005

Some cinematic facts that this film cemented for me:
Children are creepy
Dolls are creepy
No matter what they play musical boxes make it sound creepy
Basements should be avoided because they are creepy
A children’s choir singing something as simple as La La La is creepy

When his daughter Emily witnesses a traumatic event (I won’t spoil the plot too much), David Callaway decides that a move to the quiet countryside would be best to help her recover. However, strange things start to happen (don’t they always?!) and Emily places the blame firmly on her new friend Charlie. So just who is Charlie? Is he real or imaginary? And why does he have it in for Emily’s father?

For me, Robert De Niro always has a look on his face like he has smelt something really bad, and this film is no exception. He strolls through this movie, not really trying. That’s not to say his performance is bad, far from it. If it was anyone else it would be probably be Oscar worthy, but you just know De Niro can do better. Dakota Fanning is very impressive as Emily and keeps the audience second-guessing as to the real perpetrator of some quite gruesome acts of violence. The supporting cast is flawless but under used, for me it seemed a waste that the likes of Famke Janssen, Elisabeth Shue and the wonderful Dylan Baker (almost as placid and unnerving as in “Happiness”) get so little screen time. But saying that, the film does belong to De Niro and Fanning.

While not being the most original film, it is solidly acted and has a few genuinely chilling moments. As for the end, yep it’s a good twist and overall it is a good effort from all those involved, but because it is a Robert De Niro film you just expect a little bit more. It’s worth seeing for Dakota Fanning’s performance alone, but it will leave you feeling that De Niro is better than this and deserves or at least needs to choose better projects.

And as you finish reading this I ask you to join me in a moment’s silence for Robert De Niro’s acting career.