I first heard about this flick a while back after it got a lot of positive buzz in festivals, then it was announced that Lion's Gate picked up the distribution rights. Since then the movie has been getting a lot of positive buzz from horror fans alike. Could it have been possible that a fresh new original horror film had finally been released? I saw the flick the first showing on Friday and came out of the theater very pleased. Although the ending was a bit iffy at first, the film was an overall enjoyable experience. It kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing as to what's going to happen next. Its been a long time since I last saw an original U.S. horror movie at the theaters and I'm glad to finally see that the genre is still alive and kicking thanks to films like Saw.

The movie starts off with a doctor and another man waking up in a small restroom area chained to the pipes on the wall. They find clues left by someone that eventually explains that the doc has to kill the other man before 6 PM or else his wife and daughter will die. The two attempt to figure a way out of the situation without resorting to killing each other. In this process more of their past is revealed which leads to paranoia and speculation that could link either of the two to the man behind all the madness. Most of the movie is told in the past, which leads up to the present. The previous victims of the killer and the connection the two men have with him are all told in the past-tense.

We mainly follow the doctor's character played by Cary Elwes and how he became a suspect in the murders. We also follow Danny Glover's character as a crazed cop bent on revenge. Writer Leigh Whannell plays the other man in the cell, who provides some of the comedy relief in the film. This is a very original movie in many aspects. For one, the killer isn't exactly a killer since he doesn't necessarily kill his victims, but rather put them in situations where they would have to kill others in order to save themselves. The movie has a good amount of blood and gore, but sadly some of the more graphic scenes were cut out in order to receive an R-rating by the MPAA. You can expect an uncut version on DVD though.

We never get to actually see the killer's face until towards the end. Through most of the movie we'll see his shape or form, but in scenes where we see him fully he wears a interesting pig-like mask. I personally didn't find the movie to be scary, but it had a lot of thrilling and suspenseful moments, especially towards the end when time is running out. The movie might disturb the weak-hearted, but it should quench horror fan's thirst for something fresh and raw. This is a movie that definitely doesn't hold back (except for the MPAA of course; damn you MPAA *shakes fist in air*).

A good original movie. Keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat with suspsense. Recommended.