moviefreak

This movie is based on a 2003 Korean movie with the title “Geoul sokeuro“ (or Into The Mirror). I’ve never seen the Korean one, but hubby has, and he says that this Hollywood one has a better story for the middle part, though the beginning and the end of both movies are the same. I’d give this movie a 7 stars out of 10.

However, remember that it’s rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity!!!

The Story:

Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) is an ex-police detective who now has to resort to being a night watch since he is suspended due to having shot another police officer. He’s now staying at his sister’s place and his relationship with his wife has been weird ever since the shooting. He’s also taking stress medication. Anyway, he works in a burned out department store.

Strange things start to happen in the department store, especially when there are mirrors around him. He sees things in the mirrors’ reflection that aren’t really happening in real life. One time there are hand prints on the largest mirror in the store and when he touches it, it breaks and it hurts his hand. Then he also starts seeing the burnt victims of the store in the changing rooms by watching the mirrors. His wife starts to think he’s hallucinating when he tries to explain it to her.

Meanwhile, one day he also receives a package from Gary Lewis (Josh Cole), the night watchman that he’s replacing.  In the package there are pieces of information about the fire that burnt the department store and the person who started it. Through his connections, he finds out that the person who started the fire stated that the mirrors killed his wife and kids because he couldn’t do what the mirror wanted him to do. He burnt the department store since he thought he could destroy the mirrors that way. By now, Ben starts to believe that the mirrors are doing bad things to people. 

A tragedy occurs in Angela Carson’s (Amy Smart) place. As Ben’s sister is taking a bath, we can see her reflection in the mirror pulling her jaws apart and in real life Angela starts doing it. Thus Angela has a tragic death. The grieving Ben then gets back to the department store and yells at the mirror to tell him what he wants. Then a name appears on the mirror: ESSEKER.

Who is Esseker and why does Ben have to find that person? Will he be able to find Esseker before time runs out, before the mirror kills his wife and kids?