Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by mr grits (A) on June 04, 2012 at 17:56:24

"I'm going straight to hell...that place of eternal damnation". Door shuts. Maybe Eva was already there.

This slick, artistic remake make of a devil child bio-pic freezes you in its headlights. Jumping back and forth from past to present compels you to focus and wonder about the ultimate outcome of this family so damned.

Swinton, intentionally not looking her best, gives a solid performance of a mom who gives birth to a boy who hates her without reason. No matter how hard she tries Kevin withholds, ignores, or causes great difficulties. His dad, Franklin (John C Reilly), doesn't see the real Kevin. He experiences the good child, the kid who loves dad, the son who rarely needs correcting. Then comes Celia, the little sister Eva uses to diffuse Kevin's hostility and singular attention....all for naught.

This film is edited much like a commercial with its often short scenes used to illuminate or set the stage for our next step of understanding about what has really happened to Eva and her current state of demise.

Reilly gives a great performance as the dad blind to his son but the real surprise is the knockout performance of Ezra Miller as the evil son. He reeks of brimstone and acid doling out hell to Eva in small persistent pieces over each day of their lives.

At first the film doesn't quite make sense but it is like cinematic quicksand. Before you know it the whole two hours has gone.

Definitely 4 outta 5. Netflix disk.