Review of Trespass (2011) by Edward B — 25 Nov 2011

Nicolas Cage's latest disgrace of a film is a rehash of the cliches that plague the home invasion movie. This movie totally bombed at TIFF - fortunately, I already assumed the worst and avoided it then, but now that it's available for rent, hell what's $5? I guess I knew better at TIFF.

So, the movie starts by introducing Kyle (Cage) as a diamond dealer who is always too busy to spend time with his wife Sarah (Kidman) and daughter Avery (Liana Liberato). Avery is the typical rebellious but "not-stuck-up-so-we-like-her" rich kid, while Sarah is the disgruntled wife who feels Kyle isn't spending enough time with her. Like all home invasion movies, the film starts with the family at a disconnect; nothing like a robbery to bring them together.

Enter the worst pack of criminals to grace the screen all year. All they do is scream and yell and threaten to kill Kyle and his family, but it soon becomes obvious that they're only talk. This script has no intention of really putting the family in danger. Everything will work out just like they do in the generic formula of this ilk.

Among all this, Joel Schumacher can't muster up a decent thrill. He lets everyone in the movie overact, including Nicole Kidman. Everyone just screams and shouts, screams and shouts, hollers death threats at the other; you can literally leave the room for about half the movie and not miss a thing. The only one who doesn't embarrass herself is Liana Liberato, who manages to become the only sympathetic character.

I don't think I'm doing justice to just how bad this movie is. Okay, let me try again. 1. Nicolas Cage stars. 2. It's from the director of Batman and Robin, and The Number 23. 3. It's Panic Room minus the fun, and unlike The Strangers, Funny Games, or Vacancy, you never once feel like these characters are in a situation they can't get out of unscathed.