Paranormal researchers Dr. Margaret Matheson and Tom Buckley spend most of their time debunking various types of supernatural experiences ranging from psychic phenomena to ghost whispering. When legendary blind psychic Simon Silver comes out of retirement, after 30 years, Tom Buckley wishes to expose Silver as just another phoney but the usually fearless Matheson even warns Buckley that it could be a bad idea. Rodrigo Cortes' Red Lights is a film that touches on some interesting themes but ultimately fails to impress in it's dissection. Arrogance and denial towards things which one can't fully explain or understand is the principal theme, with both Margaret Matheson and Tom Buckley being strong-willed characters who firmly believe that everything can be explained by science and reason. I've always found the relationship between science and the supernatural to be interesting but the film never really says all that much, opting for a unexpected out-of-left field ending that would make M Night Shyamalan proud. Coming off his debut english language feature, Buried, Rodrigo Cortes once again showcases a unique and artistic aesthetic particularly during climatic scenes where the characters are confronted but it's the scenes in-between, the quieter moments, in which Cortes struggled at times to keep things interesting and fresh. Simon Silver is by far the most interesting character in the film, beingincredibly mysterious, but until he gets involved in the story, about 45 minutes in, the film struggles to stay interesting. Oh, and seriously what a waste of Elizabeth Olsen's talents as Sally Owen, a character that had no purpose or meaning to even be in the film. Red Lights has interesting ideas and a few memorable sequences showcasing the director's talent but the film struggles to bring anything interesting to the table in its dissection instead, opting for the lame, twist-type ending that feels patched together more than thoroughly developed. 5.5/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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