TNMC
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4 February, 2002
Rose Red Part 1
"This place is like a roach motel. They check in but they don't check out." Emery Waterman, Rose Red, Part 3
Rating: 5 stars
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD
Ever since that fatal day with the van, people have been saying that Stephen King has lost his artistic touch. When books such as Dreamcatcher (which I personally enjoyed) went off of the presses, the critics and fans said that fateful day had dealt a fatal blow to the master of horror's brilliance. Rose Red, one of the most involving horror films I have ever seen, erases any doubts.
Part 1 of Rose Red is that two hours of the film that any shlock filmmaker would immediately cut out, namely because at its conclusion they haven't even entered the house. Yes, Stephen King smartly gives 2 hours solely to developing his characters so that when a statue's eyes open as old Victor stumbles in a pond, we can feel his fear and hope he doesn't die!
Dr. Joyce Reardon (Nancy Travis) is a paranormal scientist/professor who has an unhealthy obsession with Rose Red. You see, it seems that 8 women and 3 men have died. Of course, you can guess the ways were quite gruesome and mysterious. This is Stephen King, right?
Joyce's nemesis is the skeptical and cloying professor Miller (the late and great David Dukes). For years Joyce has hoped to throw evidence in his face, and finally gets her chance when Miller takes her tenure away, infuriating her. Thus, Joyce finishes a few previously made phone calls, and soon has a psychic team of: Victor Kandinsky (Kevin Tighe) a pre-cognitive man, Pam Asbury (Emily Deschanel) a touch psychic, Emery Waterman (Matt Ross) a nerdy guy who pulls a Haley Joel Osment in that he can see the dead (except he just faces it, and doesn't go to a psychologist, although he lives with his mother.), Cathy Kramer (Judith Ivey) a religious psychic writer, Nick Hardaway (Julian Sands) a mind reader, and, most importantly, Annie Wheaton (Kimbery J. Brown) an autistic girl who has secret powers and is integral to repowering the house.
After Reardon assembles the team together, we get a short history of Rose red, suitably atmospheric. I could easily sense the wonder and dread of the story, and, through all of the magic of the house's past, it seemed completely logical!
The next scene of note if one of my favorites of this act, because it is a scene that only an accomplished filmmaker and writer would spend time including. In the scene, several of the psychics get together to have a drink and get to know each other. The scene is valuable because it demonstrates intelligence on the level of the creators in that it makes us care more for the characters subconsciously while keeping us entertained.
At part 1's conclusion, they finally arrive at Rose Red, having excited the audience enough to tune in for part 2, which is just as good as this one.
(Part 2: will be sent tomorrow)
- Emery
