Review of 100 Feet

"100 Feet" is a horror/thriller hybrid that looks potentially interesting on paper due to the names involved. The film marks the comeback - after more than ten utterly silent years - of Eric Red; the writer of genuine 80's classics "The Hitcher" and "Near Dark" and the writer/director of 90's guilty pleasures "Body Parts" and "Bad Moon". The lead role is for Famke Janssen, whom everybody – especially the male viewers – always adored but never had a chance to admire in a proper lead role. It's also the type of film that initially comes across as satisfying and successful thanks to a fairly original plot (or a rather fresh variation on an old theme) and a handful of effective jump moments. Unfortunately, however, it's also the type of film that becomes a lot more lightweight when you contemplate and analyze a little bit further. The concept of a woman who can't escape the enraged ghost of her dead husband because she's put under house arrest is indeed reasonably original, but it also feel very unfinished and shabby. Usually ghosts are summoned or unleashed, whereas in this case we're simply supposed to accept he remained present in the house and patiently waited more than 7 years for Marnie to become released from prison? And why was Marnie ever convicted to such a harsh punishment in the first place, especially since there's clear evidence that she filed numerous complaints against her ill-natured other half? Anyway, holes and illogical elements in the script I can easily overlook (can't be a horror fan otherwise) but there are far worse problems in "100 Feet" to struggle through. The film is, strangely enough, rather boring and doesn't feature any really worthwhile shock-sequences until quite late in the film. Luckily Famke than makes the (rather unwise) decision to provocatively tease her dead husband whilst she's having sex with a young stud in their marital bed. The dead guy, who got murdered for being hostile and jealous in the first place, finally snaps and does a couple of nauseating things. The main characters are bland and stereotypical, like the macho copper who never bothered to question his partner's behavior or the teenage toy-boy desperately waiting to score with a MILF, and the end-twist is pretty retarded. I hate to write such harsh comments on Eric Red's comeback feature, but if this is the best he could do after ten years; he should have waited some more years.