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Halloween is my favorite time of the year... and with the holiday coming around the corner, here are some horror films about mirrors.
OCULUS (2013)
This is one of my favorite horror film this, and last year. The film was actually based on a short story (Oculus: Chapter 3 - The Man with the Plan) which may explain the lack of story... but what it lacked, it made up for such a horrific, satisfying ending.
When you start watching the film, it does very little to tell you what the film is about. It's only about 30 minutes in, do you realize that this was a haunted mirror film. While I thought the first part of the film may bore some people... if you stick with it, it is one of the best modern horror film you'll see.
I wasn't aware that Karen Gillan was from Dr Who's fame, when I saw the film originally. I thought she did a great job, but some Who fan typecast her as Dr Who's companion.
Also, it's worth noting that the film was partly financed by WWE, but does not feature any wrestlers!
| Director: | Mike Flanagan |
| Starring: |
Karen Gillan Brenton Thwaites Rory Cochrane Katee Sackhoff |
| Company: |
Relativity Media
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When you start watching the film, it does very little to tell you what the film is about. It's only about 30 minutes in, do you realize that this was a haunted mirror film. While I thought the first part of the film may bore some people... if you stick with it, it is one of the best modern horror film you'll see.
I wasn't aware that Karen Gillan was from Dr Who's fame, when I saw the film originally. I thought she did a great job, but some Who fan typecast her as Dr Who's companion.
Also, it's worth noting that the film was partly financed by WWE, but does not feature any wrestlers!
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INTO THE MIRROR (거울 속으로) (2003)
One of my favorite 'mirror' film is this 2003 South Korean film called Into the Mirror. The story is about a series of deaths involving mirrors in this department store. I won't explain any further, as to do so will reveal the secrets in this horror film.
I bought an import copy of this on DVD, which came with a 'mirror' packaging and film script... unfortunately the script is all in Korean.
The film did well and was adapted in the 2008 film Mirrors and its 2010 sequel Mirrors 2. Both films are slightly different than the Korean film, yet you can clearly see its influences.
| Director: | Kim Sung-ho |
| Starring: |
Yoo Ji-tae Kim Hye-na Kim Myung-min |
| Company: |
Cinema Service
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I bought an import copy of this on DVD, which came with a 'mirror' packaging and film script... unfortunately the script is all in Korean.
The film did well and was adapted in the 2008 film Mirrors and its 2010 sequel Mirrors 2. Both films are slightly different than the Korean film, yet you can clearly see its influences.
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MIRRORS (2008)
Originally this Kiefer Sutherland film was a direct remake of Into the Mirror (2003), but the director
Alexandre Aja was unhappy with the story and he changed it- however keeping the themes and ideas.
I can't say I liked the changes, as the ending was somewhat predictable. I never bothered to pick up the DVD (or Bluray), as its release was barebones.
| Director: | Alexandre Aja |
| Starring: |
Kiefer Sutherland Paula Patton Amy Smart |
| Company: |
20th Century Fox
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I can't say I liked the changes, as the ending was somewhat predictable. I never bothered to pick up the DVD (or Bluray), as its release was barebones.
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MIRRORS 2 (2010)
I personally thought Mirrors 2 was a great underrated film. Although it's the sequel to the 2008 film, it had very little to do with the original film. Instead, I felt like Mirrors 2 had more in common with Into the Mirror (2003) than the original American version.
I ended up buying the Bluray version of this because it came with a bonus DVD disc of Into the Mirror.
| Director: | Víctor García |
| Starring: |
Nick Stahl Emmanuelle Vaugier Christy Romano |
| Company: |
20th Century Fox
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I ended up buying the Bluray version of this because it came with a bonus DVD disc of Into the Mirror.
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THE MIRROR (2014)
In this film, The Mirror, is about a group of friends who are documenting their experiences with a haunted mirror to win a contest. It is a found footage horror movie... and with many of these found footage movies - they can be really boring at times. Scenes of them eating, scenes of them goofing around, it's all very mundane. Except for the deaths and supernatural eye-popping scenes, this is not a very interesting film. However, if you enjoy the found-footage of Paranormal Activity series, then you'll enjoy the Mirror.
| Director: | Edward Boase |
| Starring: |
Jemma Dallender Joshua Dickinson Nate Fallows |
| Company: |
Haunted Mirror
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FENG SHUI (2004)
This is a badly-named 2014 Filipino low budget horror film. The title comes from the Chinese philosophical system about placement of things to harmonize with people and surrounding.... but I guess it is also a Filipino belief about hanging mirrors outside your home, that the mirror will reflect evil spirits. In this particular film, the mirror that Joy Ramirez randomly found on a bus, is cursed. Soon, Joy finds herself with lots of luck, winning contests, getting job promotions.... while everyone around her suffered bad misfortunes and deaths.
While the ending probably could be less 'supernatural', I found the concept of this horror film very interesting.
A Hollywood version was considered at one point, but nothing came out of it. Instead a sequel Feng Shui 2 is in the works.
| Director: | Marina Sargenti |
| Starring: |
Rainbow Harvest Karen Black Yvonne De Carlo William Sanderson |
| Company: |
Star Cinema
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While the ending probably could be less 'supernatural', I found the concept of this horror film very interesting.
A Hollywood version was considered at one point, but nothing came out of it. Instead a sequel Feng Shui 2 is in the works.
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DARK MIRROR (2007)
I used to have an unlimited rental card at Hollywood Video, and I rented almost every film that came out from 2006-2009. One of the film that I rented was called Dark Mirror, which is a straight-to-DVD film from 2007.
The film is about a photographer who moved into a house that seemed to have an evil spirit trapped in its mirror. Soon the spirit switches places with Lisa Vidal's character in real life.
| Director: | Pablo Proenza |
| Starring: |
Lisa Vidal David Chisum Joshua Pelegrin |
| Company: |
IFC Films
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The film is about a photographer who moved into a house that seemed to have an evil spirit trapped in its mirror. Soon the spirit switches places with Lisa Vidal's character in real life.
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THE BROKEN (2008)
I first saw this After Dark Horrorfest film via the unlimited rental at Hollywood Video. If you're not familiar with After Dark, it is an annual horror film festival, usually featuring eight horror films.
I eventually bought all eight movies from that 2008 series via a cheap Walmart DVD set (I think for under $10). This French/British film stars Lena Headey (Dredd and Game of Thrones) and is about her doppelganger, who escaped from a broken mirror.
| Director: | Sean Ellis |
| Starring: |
Lena Headey Asier Newman Michelle Duncan Melvil Poupaud Richard Jenkins |
| Company: |
After Dark Horrorfest
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I eventually bought all eight movies from that 2008 series via a cheap Walmart DVD set (I think for under $10). This French/British film stars Lena Headey (Dredd and Game of Thrones) and is about her doppelganger, who escaped from a broken mirror.
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MIRROR, MIRROR (1990)
I'm just going to say it, these Mirror, Mirror movies are just not very good. I bought the Anchor Bay collection, which included the original (and best of the lot) 1990 film, its sequels Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance (1994), Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur (1995), and Mirror, Mirror IV: Reflection (2000).
Although the boxart features Karen Black as the main star, she actually wasn't really the main star. In fact, her role is a minor part, playing the widowed mother of Rainbow Harvest's character.
These are B-films at best, but if you have a thing for old classic horror films, then it's worth checking out.
| Director: | Marina Sargenti |
| Starring: |
Rainbow Harvest Karen Black Yvonne De Carlo William Sanderson |
| Company: |
New City Releasing
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Although the boxart features Karen Black as the main star, she actually wasn't really the main star. In fact, her role is a minor part, playing the widowed mother of Rainbow Harvest's character.
These are B-films at best, but if you have a thing for old classic horror films, then it's worth checking out.
