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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Return is a drowsy, mildly creepy and unexpectedly well-crafted supernatural thriller that lays off the cheap thrill and gore factor in favor of the slow build up to fright and a twist ending that, while effective, may hit viewers as mostly out of left field. The Sixth Sense it ain't, but there's enough texture, style and ladled-on art direction to keep the eeriness palpable even through some of the more labored dialogue and plot contrivances. A chocolate-haired Sarah Michelle Gellar (what was wrong with her natural goldilocks?) plays Joanna Mills, some sort of traveling sales rep in a big pickup truck who journeys from her nightmare-disturbed life in St. Louis back to a small town in Texas that she sort-of remembers. Demons from the girlhood she once knew there come fiendishly together in a mishmash of flashbacks and present-day creep-outs involving murder, self-mutilation and spirits that have haunted her more than she knows. Gellar has become a go-to for glossy Hollywood horrorshows like this, thanks to her work in the Grudge franchise and the remnants of our memories from her Buffy glory days.
In spite of the handful of slipshod faults in story and directorial force, she holds her own against the vibrantly dilapidated set decorations along with a variety of other equally important characters. There's a creepy ex-boyfriend, a disgusting being stalking a phantom woman she recognises from her psychosis-induced visions, and a hunky guy who's facing down mysteries from his own past. (Do they all intersect? Hmmm...) She even stands her ground against Sam Shepard, who is all but slumming it in his few scenes as her dad. He talks about an incident that forever changed her when she was 11 years old, but his weird allusions are as enigmatic as the film itself, which desperately wants to be better than it is. But The Return still carries its share of respectable fears that are made scarier by the effectively edited string of spooky noises and images. Together they add up to make a worthy entrant in the genre of understated ghost story. --Ted Fry
Synopsis
In 2001 British director Asif Kapadia's debut feature, The Warrior, a lyrical, beautiful movie set in the Himalayas, was named Best British Film at the BAFTA Awards. For his second film, Kapadia headed to Hollywood for the suspenseful horror film The Return, written by first-time screenwriter Adam Sussman. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Joanna Mills, an aggressive young woman who works as a successful saleswoman in the trucking industry. She pushes hard to go after a big deal in Texas, even though she had previously deemed the state off limits--an event from her childhood has kept her away from her hometown for many years. Filled with fear, trepidation, and determination, she goes back to Texas, even visiting her estranged father (Sam Shepard). As she sees familiar places, she has frightening flashes of deja vu, remembering bits and pieces of a tragic incident involving an ex-con (Peter O'Brien), an unseen man, and a bad traffic accident. The visions haunt her dreams, sending her back to her childhood (where she's played by Darrian McClanahan). Reunited with an old friend (Kate Beahan), Joanna tries to move forward, but her unfinished past keeps dragging her back. Kapadia keeps things at a slow, suspenseful pace, every scene adding another piece of the plot--as well as a touch more mystery. Gellar, who has also starred in such horror films as The Grudge, I Know WhatT You Did Last Summer, and Scream 2, plays Joanna with an involving sense of dread that is echoed by Dario Marianelli's score.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
First, whoever says this film either sucks, or is confusing, lame - they probably didn't understand it.
Like many, I was so sick to death of all the Hollywood releases this past year. Almost every horror movie being released has been a complete gore fest! Now I have nothing against gore but, enough is enough. Movies like Saw, Hostel, are pitiful, ridiculous movies. Film makers have stopped trying to deliver a solid script, instead they just lay anything that's anything on the table - body part wise. Where has the good suspense gone???
Look no further. The Return has brought it back!!
Before watching the movie, my friend insisted I don't watch it. I had already read all the bad reviews. People claiming the film was too confusing, or lacked any real story line - these people are dumb. When the credits rolled, I couldn't wait to purchase the movie and watch it all over again.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is an amazing actress and carries the movie well. Her blind stare and almost zombie like presence captures the characters feelings and emotions beautifully.
The Return has a lot of suspense and jumpy moments. If you're sick of seing blood splattered everywhere and would like a good thriller, this is your movie.
Don't listen to the bad reviews!
Like many, I was so sick to death of all the Hollywood releases this past year. Almost every horror movie being released has been a complete gore fest! Now I have nothing against gore but, enough is enough. Movies like Saw, Hostel, are pitiful, ridiculous movies. Film makers have stopped trying to deliver a solid script, instead they just lay anything that's anything on the table - body part wise. Where has the good suspense gone???
Look no further. The Return has brought it back!!
Before watching the movie, my friend insisted I don't watch it. I had already read all the bad reviews. People claiming the film was too confusing, or lacked any real story line - these people are dumb. When the credits rolled, I couldn't wait to purchase the movie and watch it all over again.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is an amazing actress and carries the movie well. Her blind stare and almost zombie like presence captures the characters feelings and emotions beautifully.
The Return has a lot of suspense and jumpy moments. If you're sick of seing blood splattered everywhere and would like a good thriller, this is your movie.
Don't listen to the bad reviews!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I must admit, I was ready to turn this off after the first 20-25 minutes, as there's precious little pace, patchy dialogue and no tension as we are introduced to the central characters of the film. Things improve steadily from there on, though, as the director plays on the dark atmosphere, and more and more unanswered questions pile up. By the end of the film it was all clicking into place with quite an unexpected twist guaranteed to have viewers admitting "I never saw that coming"!
Gellar turns in a good, solid performance as expected, and is supported well by mysterious, brooding Peter O'Brien and the chauvinist evil of Adam Scott. The supernatural theme builds well, and the central menace is as ugly and as horridying as you'd expect from Gellar's anxiety on screen.
Worth sticking with - it's a good film if you make it through the first half hour.
Gellar turns in a good, solid performance as expected, and is supported well by mysterious, brooding Peter O'Brien and the chauvinist evil of Adam Scott. The supernatural theme builds well, and the central menace is as ugly and as horridying as you'd expect from Gellar's anxiety on screen.
Worth sticking with - it's a good film if you make it through the first half hour.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this at the cinema and enjoyed it. A girl aiming high in the career stakes is drawn back to a small town where she becomes involved with a mysterious stranger, (incidently, Shane from neighbours) She also begins to have strange visions which may be someone else's memories.
This didn't do very well at the cinema which is a shame as it is quite good. Sarah Michelle Geller acts well and the atmospheric music and beautiful scenary make this a better film then you might first think. The twist at the end was an added bonus also.
Cast aside any doubts and give this film a go. It really is worth a look.
This didn't do very well at the cinema which is a shame as it is quite good. Sarah Michelle Geller acts well and the atmospheric music and beautiful scenary make this a better film then you might first think. The twist at the end was an added bonus also.
Cast aside any doubts and give this film a go. It really is worth a look.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Hidden Gem
I can understand why people don't like it. It's bleak; with deserted streets, empty factories, and drained of colour. There's not much blood. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Diogenes1951
Nice idea but poorly executed.
Even though I've only scored this film with 2 stars I wouldn't say it's a bad film. The story is actually quite good and mostly original, it's just the film is really lethargic and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by 1philone
very intelligent,well written suspense thriller (4.6/5)
i really liked this movie.that's saying a lot because i
generally don't like Sarah Michelle Gellar.however,i didn't mind her in
this movie. Read more
generally don't like Sarah Michelle Gellar.however,i didn't mind her in
this movie. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2010 by falcon
Boring, strange, and confusing!
We all know that the japaneese-based horrors are the same basic story, but this was that story but even worse. It was confusing, wierd, and strange. Read more
Published on 4 July 2009 by dosn't matter who I am
One of the dullest films I've ever seen
In 'The Return' Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Joanna, a young woman who has grown up experiencing strange visions of a mysterious stranger and the town she used to know. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by KM
Yawn
Myself and some friends rented this film as we had decided to have a night in. We cooked, poured the wine and sat down to what we thought would be a good film. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2009 by Dazz
Not exactly a horror movie.
'The Return' isn't so much a horror movie in my opinion as it is a sort-of supernatural mystery. The advertising was very misleading but the actual film itself I really... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2008 by PlasticPingu
Dont waste your time with this pointless crap
This film is not good i bought it on sky box office it wasnt even worth that. It started of boring ended boring. Read more
Published on 4 July 2008 by MrMetalheadO'Hagan
Supernatural Thriller
Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Joanna Mills who is a traveling sales rep, a job she choose because it keeps her always on the move. Read more
Published on 21 May 2008 by M. A. Ramos
Sarah Michelle Gellar - so wrong for this role
I was so glad I rented this movie from Amazon instead of buying it - as I had been toying with the idea of it for much time after people saying it was a fabulous horror. Read more
Published on 27 April 2008 by Dismal Angel
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