The Return

I think a round of applause is in order for whoever pieced together the trailer for Rogue Pictures' latest release, 'The Return'. I myself, along with everyone else have been duped into believing it is in fact a horror film. On the contrary though, its actually a supernatural thriller. Too bad it is not the least bit thrilling. 'The Return' stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Joanna Mills, a young woman who has had personal problems since the age of eleven. It was at that age that she began having haunting visions depicting the murder of a woman whom she has never met. While in Texas on a business trip, she is led by these visions to the murdered woman's hometown, La Salle. There she comes face to face with another person who has frequently appeared in her visions. A man by the name of Terry Stahl, who is played by Peter O'Brien. Joanna is now on a desperate search for answers. A search that could in the end result in her very own murder. I really don't know where to begin here folks. Which should I mention first? The atrocious acting, hideous directing, or the terribly bland story? No matter which one I choose my point behind each is the same: they simply suck. Adam Sussman's screenplay is downright moronic. Its not interesting. Its not compelling. Its just plain unpleasant. I kept waiting for something to jumpstart the "film" (I've placed quotations around film because I don't believe 'The Return' deserves to be called an actual film due to it's foulness.) and at least give it some slight chance of hope, but nothing ever happened. I was left out in an unbearable cold to freeze. Not even stellar performances from the actors themselves could have saved this disaster. Of course they probably knew this having read the script then agreeing to do the "film". I assume this is why the acting was so awful. At least that's what I'm choosing to believe. I really hope the cast doesn't pride themselves on their performances. They need immediate medical attention if they do. Now the directing was unmistakably bad, but I can't quite crucify Asif Kapadia entirely. (Well I could, but I won't since I'm such a nice guy.) I look at 'The Return' as a test for Kapadia because for all of you that don't know, this is his first full-length feature "film". He's just getting his foot in the door and still learning. Next time around, well if there is a next time, hopefully he will have improved vastly. The only thing he was able to accomplish here was almost completely duplicating the visual style of Marcus Nispel's 2003 re-make of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. Now that's nice the "film" was given that, but unfortunately he still won't be receiving any kudos from me for that. Copying someone else's work isn't something I consider to be praise worthy. (Even if it is from a film I very much enjoyed.) I think Jim Sonzero's American re-make of 'Pulse' will now have to fork over the title of Worst Film of the Year to 'The Return'. It beyond question is deserving of the title in almost every imaginable way. Now I don't doubt this will make a small, and I mean very small, profit. No matter what though, it won't surpass or even parallel the fluke success of Gellar's previous acting effort, 'The Grudge'. On that note, there's one last thing I'd like to add. I can honestly say I had never been embarrassed to have been seen leaving a theater auditorium until seeing 'The Return'. That is something I never wish to experience again, along with the "film" itself.

How on earth is it possible that, in this modern day & age of progressive cinema and amazing visual techniques, such redundant and out-of-date films like "The Return" still manage to find their way to theater distribution? I can't even decide what to hate most about this film, as the list of inept & pitiable aspects is almost too long to choose from. Sarah Michelle Gellar's embarrassing attempt to come across as a real actress? The total lack of logic and continuity? Or simply the fact it's an unendurably boring & soporific film that doesn't feature a single moment of action or tension? But most likely I hate it because director Asif Kapadia and writer Adam Sussman haven't even got an actual story to tell and simply attempt to tie together the loose ends of something that vaguely resembles a supernatural thriller/ghosts-from-the-past melodrama. I watched this dull turkey at the Belgian Festival of Horror & Fantasy Films and the spontaneous reactions of the audience didn't lie. "The Return" honestly deserved all the BOOH's and BOOOOOOORING's that were disrespectfully yelled at the screen. They want us to believe Gellar is a successful young saleswoman on her way to close up a million Dollar deal in the Texan area where she grew up. The poor woman is haunted by visions of a murder that occurred in the area almost 15 years ago and, even though she doesn't recognize the man in her dreams, she feels connected to him and carefully seeks contact. A whole lot of boredom and pointless sub plot later, there's the climax that doesn't make the slightest bit of sense and won't shock or surprise even the smallest child. I tremendously disliked the recent mystery-thriller "The Messengers" because it shamelessly presented an endless number false frights and clichés, but that film is honestly a masterpiece compared to "The Return", as the latter features nothing! Not even a single slamming door or random ghostly appearance in a mirror. The plot is often more incoherent than the ones of low-budget B-movies of the 70's, as some supportive characters inexplicably disappear and others abruptly enter the scene without being introduced. Sam Shepard, the only decent player in the entire film, is dreadfully underused while the awful TV-actor Peter O'Brien gives away a terrible performance. Roman Osnin provides the film with a handful of beautifully shot images that actually deserved to be in a better film. Some people claimed that "The Return" turned out a lot better because they didn't expect to see a horror film. Well, I think that no matter what genre you're expecting to see, it'll always remain a dire film.

This movie was a classic. It proves that you do not need men with chainsaw's that chase girls, to scare you. Many people thought that this was like The Grudge. Its completely different. The acting is amazing. Sarah Michelle Gellar's best project yet. The film has twists, and turns. Its hard to understand at first due to the slowness pace of the movie. The camera angles are great, and the chase scene at the end is truly suspenseful. The character development is really great too. I recommend, that you see this movie. You will get your money's worth....

I am amazed with some of the reviews of this film. The only place that seems to tell the truth is RottenTomatoes.com. This film is awful. The plot is extremely lazy. It is not scary either. People out there who think that because it stars Sarah Michelle Geller it is somehow like The Grudge should forget about it. This film is more like Dark Water, except it is even more predictable and slow moving than it. I was extremely disappointed with this film. It didn't scare me nor interest me either. Let's face it , this type of plot has been flogged to death at this stage e.g. the dead trying to contact the living - Dragonfly, What Lies Beneath, Ghost Story, Dark Water, Darkness, The Changeling etc.etc. It seems to me that the only ones writing original horror films nowadays are the Japanese and the Koreans. The films that are coming out of Hollywood, like this, are cynical exercises in money making without a shred of respect for the viewer. They're just being churned out

That rating is me being nice. This movie wouldn't be missed if it was never made. There were no scary parts, not that the movie was supposed to scare you, but it would have given it some edge. It's about a little girl who is always seeing a man and grows up still seeing the man and everyone thinks she's crazy. That's a summary without spoilers believe me. Sarah does a pretty good job at acting her part but she's starting to waste time making these types of films. I enjoyed it even though I knew who so and so was and what the conclusion of the movie was because it was that simple. Have fun and see the movie, but don't expect something miraculous...believe me. Me being a fan of the reason behind the whole movie took the story line into consideration and thought that that part was okay...it just takes so long to get to the point. Blah Blah Blah...it just went on like I'm doing. It could have been thirty minutes and we would have gotten the movie. But don't listen to my opinion, go check it out yourself. Blah!

I don't know why someone commented that this was an awful movie. It had a great ending and everything was tied together. I went with some kids from my high school and everyone loved it. We got scarred and jumped it was a good movie. The ending connected the dots. I just saw the movie last night and nothing about it was bad. Everything made sense and it had a great plot. I have seen some well plenty of bad movies and this is not one of them. The movie isn't gross and it will make you jump. I will tell all of my friends to see it and buy it when it comes out. I am really glad i saw this movie.

I thought that this was an excellent movie, with good suspense and atmosphere, good acting, and with a quite brilliant plot. The plot develops slowly, and this may be a problem for the movie's commercial success. However, during this time it is building up tension and a sense that a strange menacing power is at work, and this makes the movie's strong climax all the more effective. Also, I thought that someone had come up with a very good story, one that reminded me of something from Joseph Sheridan LeFanu, or something that I might see in Japanese cinema, and this was just the way the story had to be told. I thought that Sarah Michelle Gellar was quite impressive as Joanna Mills. She effectively portrayed someone haunted by a frightening mystery, and drawn inexorably towards its center. For that matter, I thought that the whole cast gave strong performances. The use of flashbacks was quite effective, as were the shots of the scenery of rural Texas. Sometimes the scenery added to the atmosphere of dread, but it was always beautiful.

I have always been a die-hard horror fan, but lately I've been getting frustrated. Almost every new movie is the same: if it's not the raven-haired ghost, then it's the over-the-top slaughter fest. Now, I like gore, and I like Asian horror, but I also like seeing something new. And I felt like The Return was that something. The Return has practically no gore. It doesn't have an evil ghost or creepy kids. It doesn't have endless plot twists. It doesn't have a lot of effects. But it certainly didn't need any of that stuff to be one of the most unsettling movies I've seen in a while. I'd forgotten what it's like to be scared at the movies! It was very intense at moments, and really kept me on edge. Yes, the scares are simple, but they are undeniably effective. I had chills almost the entire time, and jumped repeatedly. Despite being a very creepy, very chilling movie, it can best be described as a horror-love story, like a Lakehouse for horror fans; the ending was even pretty affecting! It might not be the kind of movie it's advertised to be, but the Return is definitely worth seeing.

This is an intelligent, intense and dark spiritual movie which I certainly enjoyed. A superior production and direction and in my opinion appears to be well under rated by the voters of IMDb. A young woman is tormented by her past and "returns" to her home to discover, if she can, the reasons for her haunting recollections and the questions raised include: is she mad? Or is her past or another's' being relived through her memories? The film is appropriately made in sombre autumnal colors in keeping with the ambiance of the story,and is an adult drama. I was impressed with all the actors especially the attractive lead female who is charismatic, convincing and highly watchable. Well done the film-makers, a sound, 7/10.

I remember seeing the trailer for The Return a few mos. ago. I remember feeling intrigued but a little underwhelmed. I thought any movie is worth a look with lovely Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lead. I've always loved SGM in her Buffy hey day. But as it got closer and closer to its switchy release date buzz dropped, there were no advance screenings and a PG-13 rating. All pretty much signaling a crapfest. Momentum especially dropped after the release one of the worst films ever made The Grudge 2 after bad publicity like that I'm not sure I would've really tried to push this film either. But after seeing it this evening I'm happy to say it deserves to be seen, but not by all. Let's face it SMG is great but her movie choices haven't been so worthy she showed off her acting chops in her multi-emmy nominated Buffy role, hence her following. But I will say that this is first real movie, that demanded a real performance and she delivers. The Return is no standard hodge podge of cheap scare tactics and a translucent plot grabbings. It is instead a multi layered psychological thriller with elements of the supernatural and the macabre. Gellar stars in beautiful dark brown hair as Joanna Mills a tough young business woman who returns home to Texas for a business deal. While she is there she's haunted by strange visions and even stranger mishaps. She is seemingly being stalked by a homicidal maniac and is reliving the murder of a woman that looks frightfully like her. All of the twists culminate to an unexpected and shocking finale worthy of attention. But stupid people looking for cheap thrills do need not apply. The Return earns its scares courtesy of its director Asif Kapadia director of the award winning film The Warrior. This is a thinking persons movie. You must piece the plot together while enduring some delightfully creepy setpieces and some experimentally satisfying cinematography. But the real fun is talking about the movie after its over. Because all though seemingly figured out it leaves a lot to your imagination. You become immersed in the films subtext of loneliness and despair. The yearning for a connection to someone or some place that could complete you as a person. The return offers such insight if your willing to look. SMG's character Joanna Mills is lonely, confused but strong willed and confident. Many of us can identify with her. The director aims to tell a story about the wrongful murder of a woman , yes, but also about a young woman struggling to find herself in this world, her purpose, all set against the backdrop of the seemingly whole hearted midwest. The film is drab looking rightfully so and is brutally serious any humor left within is purely coincidental. The fact that SMG would choose a film like this is a clear sign that she means business. She wants to be recognized for her talent and doesn't just want to be a genre staple. The film is filled with delicately subtle and effective performances most notably by Sam Shepard. And all though the film is creatively executed it's not flawless in the end it either needed to be shorter or longer. A longer cut may have given us a bit more insight into the characters and the directors emotional landscape a shorter cut would have made for a fine and exceptional episode of masters of horror or some other genre show. But don't pass this one up if your looking for something different, something smart. The Return is a return to intelligent genre film making.