‘Mirrors’: Warped reflections

(Published Oct. 7, PDI-Entertainment)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor

Kiefer Sutherland plays an ex-detective who encounters the supernatural in “Mirrors,” a horror flick that’s more discomfiting for its repulsive depictions of gore than the unveiling of spooky mysteries.

The actor plays Ben Carson, a new night watchman guarding an old department store that burned down decades ago. It’s a role that doesn’t easily inspire association with his most popular character, “24’s” toughie agent Jack Bauer. But give it time; part of it feels like watching an episode of the action-drama series.

The movie, a remake of the Korean horror flick “Into the Mirror,” manages to create a dark and dreadful tone from the start. Ben sees strange and chilling apparitions in the ruined building, but they’re dismissed as hallucinations by his estranged wife (Paula Patton) and sister (Amy Smart). The store’s mirrors are sending him a message, and eventually, Ben is forced to conduct his own investigation to find the truth behind the bizarre occurrences.

Directed and co-written by “The Hills Have Eyes’” Alexandre Aja, “Mirrors” follows a typical supernatural murder mystery structure. The naturally curious protagonist pieces together clues left by some gruesome deaths, and discovers to his horror that his problem isn’t contained to that one spot. Ben, recovering from tragedy and alcohol abuse, reverts to the well-meaning and driven person when faced with unbelievable circumstances.

And yes, Sutherland also reverts to Jack Bauer whenever things get horrific, and it becomes both distracting and funny. He’s racing to save innocents, and resorts to unorthodox means.

The last 30 or so minutes of the movie shatter the promise offered by its fright-inducing buildup. The movie decently executes scary sequences often, but often focuses more on special effects. While the ghastly, bloody prosthetics are superbly done, the lingering shots are off-putting.

These and the effects shots of ghostly faces trying to burst out of mirrors quickly get tiresome. “Mirrors” becomes a saturated mishmash of ghost and monster flicks, diminishing creepy threats it established into just warped reflections.