Review of Red Road (2006) by Andrewk. — 27 May 2007

This isn't the most amazing film around, but it's still one of my favorites this year because it does something which very few films do anymore: it doesn't beat you over the head with what it's trying to say.

In fact, it doesn't make it at all apparent what it's trying to say. I guess you could take from it that revenge is not the way to find peace. But there are many things to be learned from this film.

It is very sad at times and always very real. I like quiet films like this. I would not say that there is "not really much going on." Just because people aren't talking or you're not getting specific plot information shoved in your face every two seconds does not mean that there is nothing going on.

The film is like observing real life, much the way the protagonist does when watching her security cameras. I have to say, though I know it's naive, I didn't realize that such a thing existed in the world.

That neighborhoods are under watch by security cameras. Is that real? Or just a construct of the film? Creepy. I would also like to point out that the sex scene is extremely hot. So close to being porn I couldn't believe it.

But not inappropriate for the film. And what the main character does after that, I never saw coming. This film was made by a director that respects her audience's intelligence by not spelling out anything.

And for that, I respect her.