Review of The Resident (2011) by Sums I — 22 Feb 2011
Somewhat creepy, a voyeuristic "ick" factor, even decent acting but it never feels grounded and completely falls apart by the end. To its credit, the idea might've sounded better on paper, but doesn't work on film.
A major problem is we have little connection with our characters other than the likability and vulnerability Hilary Swank naturally brings to the screen. But there is no motivation for anything that happens: from coincidental meetings, to needing a giant apartment, to why the over-the-top infatuation, etc.
The plot holes are so gaping it ruins the realism. Seriously, would somebody visiting a hospital really find an ER doc extremely hot in scrubs? Is a $3800 apartment a good deal for any single lady? Why would a voyeur need to stalk around inside an apartment when he's got every vantage point from behind the walls? It's just full of dumb... and frankly, without realism you're removed from caring too much and it's not scary.
Oh, and if your only interest is peeking in on Hilary Swank (yes, pun intended), you'll likely be disappointed on that level as well.
Naturally the very moment "the resident" discovers the secrets of her landlord, she has no opportunity to escape, cell phone stops working, boyfriend is... well, basically the ending is full of chasing and one gotcha scare after another... and another... and another. Did they rewrite the script a bunch of times, but forget to remove the early endings?
Perhaps the gotcha scares work on some level, but by the end I just wanted everything in fast-forward... and that's saying something for a movie where the credits roll after only 86 minutes. Skip it!
This review of The Resident (2011) was written by Sums I on 22 Feb 2011.
The Resident has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
