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HIDE AND SEEK (Rated 18)
Finally, here is a film for fans of De Niro’s more serious work to get their teeth into. Meet The Fockers and Shark’s Tale are all well and good for a few cheap laughs but neither really tested Bob, who remains one of the most effective actors in Hollywood. In Hide and Seek, De Niro plays middle-aged writer David Callaway, the troubled father of a little girl traumatized by her mother's violent death. His performance is everything you could expect from the seasoned master of menace but nevertheless it comes close to being overshadowed by his somewhat junior co-star. Ten-year-old Dakota Fanning (‘Man on Fire’ and ‘I Am Sam’) shows remarkable maturity in her portayal of a tormented child who may be delusional, schizophrenic or perhaps murderous. Together they transform what could have been an ordinary family psychological thriller directed by John Polson (‘Swimfan’) into something far more eerie and unexpected. When little Emily discovers her mother dead in a tub full of blood, she descends into a terrifying world, accompanied by an imaginary friend named Charlie who seems to exert a devilish influence. Dark and brooding, the film develops its themes of madness and terror before finally showing its hand with a smart ‘Sixth Sense’-like twist that is well worth the wait.
Verdict: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Will have you hiding behind the couch
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