I checked the IMDb rating of this film before watching it. 5.7 - not too promising. But as I subsequently watched it, I found myself more and more surprised at this low rating, because this was well-produced and well-acted and would probably, I thought, get a 7 from me, at the very least. The plot was intriguing and exciting and understated in an appealing way. Which is why the nonsensical ending was so disappointing.
I haven't read the book, but I understand I have the exact same problem with the film's ending (different from the book's) as do those who've read it. It's a common theme in stories of the supernatural that it is eventually revealed to be a hoax (Dean R. Koontz, anyone?), so while it was not surprising, it would have been a great deal more refreshing if it had turned out to be real. But, it was deception. It was all intended to deceive. The very core of the plot, the whole concept and the entire point was deception. Hence the story undermined its own plot by having Selina nurture regrets and have feelings for Margaret after all. Because Selina and Vigers could only have pulled something like that off if they were really, really committed to these fraudulent schemes, and worked together with complete trust between them. Therefore Selina's regrets just don't make sense.
The story, at the end, in my opinion, should have focused on the relationship and genuine feelings between Selina and Ruth Vigers, which would *actually* have made this into a proper love story after all - except of course for the a bit more than slightly silly fact that they were lesbian rapists (uh - a bit of a stretch in any case) and thus the bad guys. But I could actually have looked beyond this because of the era in which it took place; an era where lesbians could not openly live out their heartfelt lifestyle, but had to find very alternative and creative ways of doing so.
Anyway, the "spirit rapes" being their chief motivation made the whole plot rather dumb, and after that revelation how on earth are we supposed to care for these characters? So, the IMDb rating is pretty accurate after all. A shame.
6 out of 10.
I haven't read the book, but I understand I have the exact same problem with the film's ending (different from the book's) as do those who've read it. It's a common theme in stories of the supernatural that it is eventually revealed to be a hoax (Dean R. Koontz, anyone?), so while it was not surprising, it would have been a great deal more refreshing if it had turned out to be real. But, it was deception. It was all intended to deceive. The very core of the plot, the whole concept and the entire point was deception. Hence the story undermined its own plot by having Selina nurture regrets and have feelings for Margaret after all. Because Selina and Vigers could only have pulled something like that off if they were really, really committed to these fraudulent schemes, and worked together with complete trust between them. Therefore Selina's regrets just don't make sense.
The story, at the end, in my opinion, should have focused on the relationship and genuine feelings between Selina and Ruth Vigers, which would *actually* have made this into a proper love story after all - except of course for the a bit more than slightly silly fact that they were lesbian rapists (uh - a bit of a stretch in any case) and thus the bad guys. But I could actually have looked beyond this because of the era in which it took place; an era where lesbians could not openly live out their heartfelt lifestyle, but had to find very alternative and creative ways of doing so.
Anyway, the "spirit rapes" being their chief motivation made the whole plot rather dumb, and after that revelation how on earth are we supposed to care for these characters? So, the IMDb rating is pretty accurate after all. A shame.
6 out of 10.