Search - Walled In [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 1/4/2022...

This definitely has it's own uniqueness!

Condemned for being structurally unsound . . .

trebe | 02/07/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Walled-In (2009) does provide some twisted minor thrills, but despite having four writers, the story makes almost no logical sense. Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner is in charge of this mess that features Mischa Barton (The O.C.), as Samantha Walczak, of the firm Walczak and Sons (where are the sons?) who are in the business of demolishing buildings. Her job is to determine the best way to demolish an ugly, monolithic apartment building, located in an isolated area, in an unspecified American location.

The structure was designed by architect Joseph Malestrazza (Pascal Greggory), who apparently had some radical ideas regarding building materials, as some fifteen years prior (1993), human bodies were discovered inside the concrete walls of the structure. One of the dead, was the husband of the building's current caretaker Mary Sutter (Deborah Kara Unger), who along with her teenage son Jimmy (Cameron Bright), are among the handful, still residing in the condemned structure. Jimmy is enamored with Sam, and their developing 'relationship' is about all there is happening here, besides Sam wandering around the halls measuring, and painting red X's where the demo charges are supposed to go. Events suddenly take a dramatic turn in the film's final act, as matters descend into a dark twisted opera.

Relying on `atmosphere' and ignoring reality, pretentious, melodramatic, drivel like this, insults the intelligence of the audience. The setting is unique, but not in a credible way. The unattractive building is supposed to have been the home for hundreds of people, yet there isn't even a paved road to the place. There are no visible utility poles, so power and communication service apparently gets there via underground lines. Hardly likely. The building is built alongside a lake? Tricky to do, but possible. The structure isn't compliant with building code, as it has no elevator, landscaping, fire alarm system, exterior lighting, or covered parking. It does however have crappy lighting, hidden shafts and passages, some restless spirits, a totally wacked out roof (are those solar panels?), and an overall design that would never have been approved by any competent building department in the USA. The building's biggest 'secret', just could never happen.

Sam Walczak is laughable as an engineer. This job is her big test as a professional, yet she knows absolutely nothing about the history of the building, and has to rely on a kid for information. The term 'blueprint' is archaic, referring to a process that has not been used for decades. Explosive charges are typically placed to destroy structural members, usually columns. A structural wall does not crumble when hit with an axe, so there's no point painting an X to plant a charge there. Sam is working in a low light environment, exploring unlighted shafts, but doesn't even have a flashlight.

Mischa Barton does what she can, but the script is appallingly awful. Cameron Bright does a good job as an annoying, creepy kid, but unfortunately the best acting that Deborah Kara Unger does, is in the humorous making of featurette, where she talks about how great the film is."

Pascal Gregory looks like a cross between Mickey Rourke and

Cleo | USA | 06/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"disgusting but delicious like a naughty Christmas present. I loved this movie although I didn't expect to. I wasn't a fan of Mischa Barton having only seen her in Sixth Sense and tabloid photos but she turned in an interesting performance. Deborah Kara Unger I find to be mesmerizing in a Borg Queen way ever since Payback. She turned in a strong performance in the supporting role. The surprise appearance of Pascal Gregory looked even in caricature - magnetic. The color saturations hinted at the French touch of this film, not Pascal Gregory in the cast. This felt American if not universal. The evil is not supernatural or zombies but simply human awfulness and that's interesting. I highly recommend this movie but watch it with no expectations. Human beings are just awful. And if the Creole and Cajuns of New Orleans were agreeable, I'd want to move them into the giant indestructible Stackhouses that Malastrazza built. No more mold.

n.b. The design in the atrium is Hexagram 32 of the I-Ching to spare anyone else from looking it up:

The I Ching - Hexagram 32 Heng
I Ching Hexagram 32 - Heng
I Ching Hexagram: 32

Name: Heng.

Keyphrase: Constancy.

Formed By The Trigrams: Thunder over Wind.



General: True persistence is a process of constant renewal.

Love: To deepen your relationship you should adapt to changes around you.

Business: You will be rewarded for the effort you have put into your business ventures.

Personal: Focus on self-renewal and make sure you avoid inertia.



Overview: Heng is telling you that the only sure constant in life is change. When mistakes are made in a particular strategy the same mistake is often repeated. It does not show strength of character to formulate the same strategy (even if it has worked in the past). Rather it shows a weakness in your refusal to adapt and change. There will always be obstacles in life. Some may be often repeated. If a strategy that has worked several times in the past does not work now then change your strategy. It is also about inertia and complacency. You should always be focusing on self-renewal and not becoming complacent. Avoid stagnation.

Or as Bruce Lee said, "Be like water, my friend."

hee, hee"