With a clever central premise and a refreshing lack of any special effects work whatsoever (apart from a nifty 'demon vision' which is used occasionally), FALLEN is a cut above the standard fare of today's American horror films. With a more complex plot than usual (for once, the film doesn't underestimate the intellect of the viewer) and plenty of suspense and nightmarish scenes built up, this will be a refreshing treat for any horror fan.
It must be made clear, though, that no matter how clever FALLEN thinks it is, one thing it is not is original. While the theme of the story's hero being implicated in the crimes by the real, supernatural criminal of the piece harks back to CANDYMAN, the real concept of a force which can swap bodies at will actually goes back to the late '80s in the form of such cult classics as THE HIDDEN and SHOCKER. This time around the evil force is more believable though, because there are no rubbery or slimy special effects, the demon is ever invisible. If you will, more is less.
One thing I liked about this film is that full use is made of the demon's ability to swap bodies, and many times it escapes just as its about to be caught. Dozens of people get the demon inside them, and there is one great moment where it travels through a queue of people, as one after another they transfer the demon to each other. Another disconcerting moment is when the demon gets inside the police station and one person after another starts singing "time is on my side". Aside from the central killer, the film is very much in the style of SEVEN, in that the settings are gloomy and there is a depressingly downbeat ending. The influence of THE X-FILES is also clear, with impossibly bright torches lighting up dingy surroundings, and Washington could easily be substituted for Mulder.
Denzel Washington is well-cast in the role of John Hobbes, a typical everyday sort of detective who displays no psychic powers or anything, he's just a believable, clever guy who uses his wits to catch the demon out. Washington is given able support by three actors and actresses who perform well in their roles and who all come out looking good. Firstly there is John Goodman, looking very much older these days, who plays his typical mild-mannered friendly person. Donald Sutherland is also on hand to lend distinguished and solid support, and it's always great to see Sutherland in a film. Whatever critics might say, he's a good guy. Embeth Davidtz (ARMY OF DARKNESS) plays the female lead who is unsurprisingly underused, but for once she plays a well-drawn out, realistic female character in a horror film.
Fallen deserves kudos for being a little bit more intelligent than the more typical blockbusters filling out the horror shelves these days. There are plenty of twists for the mystery fan to enjoy, and a gripping finale, which, like ARLINGTON ROAD, doesn't succumb to the sappy sentimental ending so beloved of most of these films. I can only praise it for the lack of special effects which, like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT showed, don't necessarily make a good film.
It must be made clear, though, that no matter how clever FALLEN thinks it is, one thing it is not is original. While the theme of the story's hero being implicated in the crimes by the real, supernatural criminal of the piece harks back to CANDYMAN, the real concept of a force which can swap bodies at will actually goes back to the late '80s in the form of such cult classics as THE HIDDEN and SHOCKER. This time around the evil force is more believable though, because there are no rubbery or slimy special effects, the demon is ever invisible. If you will, more is less.
One thing I liked about this film is that full use is made of the demon's ability to swap bodies, and many times it escapes just as its about to be caught. Dozens of people get the demon inside them, and there is one great moment where it travels through a queue of people, as one after another they transfer the demon to each other. Another disconcerting moment is when the demon gets inside the police station and one person after another starts singing "time is on my side". Aside from the central killer, the film is very much in the style of SEVEN, in that the settings are gloomy and there is a depressingly downbeat ending. The influence of THE X-FILES is also clear, with impossibly bright torches lighting up dingy surroundings, and Washington could easily be substituted for Mulder.
Denzel Washington is well-cast in the role of John Hobbes, a typical everyday sort of detective who displays no psychic powers or anything, he's just a believable, clever guy who uses his wits to catch the demon out. Washington is given able support by three actors and actresses who perform well in their roles and who all come out looking good. Firstly there is John Goodman, looking very much older these days, who plays his typical mild-mannered friendly person. Donald Sutherland is also on hand to lend distinguished and solid support, and it's always great to see Sutherland in a film. Whatever critics might say, he's a good guy. Embeth Davidtz (ARMY OF DARKNESS) plays the female lead who is unsurprisingly underused, but for once she plays a well-drawn out, realistic female character in a horror film.
Fallen deserves kudos for being a little bit more intelligent than the more typical blockbusters filling out the horror shelves these days. There are plenty of twists for the mystery fan to enjoy, and a gripping finale, which, like ARLINGTON ROAD, doesn't succumb to the sappy sentimental ending so beloved of most of these films. I can only praise it for the lack of special effects which, like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT showed, don't necessarily make a good film.