Hide and Seek Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)February 1st, 2005
"Hide and Seek"
A tragic suicide takes the life of Alison Callaway (Amy Irving) away from her husband, psychologist Dr. David (Robert DeNiro), and their daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning). David decides it best to leave New York City and its sad memories behind and moves upstate to the small, peaceful town of Woodland. But, that peace is shattered when the doctor discovers that Emily has an imaginary friend named Charlie – or, is he really imaginary? – in "Hide and Seek."
As the well-tread story of "Hide and Seek" plays out, I was struck by the derivative nature of the film while I watched many scenes and ideas that were extant in the far superior "The Shining," the similarly (to "H&S") mediocre "What Lies Beneath" and Johnny Depp's recent "Secret Window." Of these four films only "The Shining" stands out as a truly horrifying horror film.
Robert DeNiro does nothing to make his David callaway either a believable or sympathetic character. The actor seems to be coasting along on his past laurels and gives a two-dimensional, cookie-cutter perf as a man conflicted by the arrival of Emily's new, imaginary friend. DeNiro goes through the motion as he must face one horror after another, only to be told by his daughter that "Charlie did it!"
Dakota Fanning has been having a great acting track record – "I Am Sam" and "Man on Fire" come to mind – but even she cannot save "Hide and Seek." Her performance is split between looking wan with huge circles under her eyes to laying the blame for all the terrible things going on upon the shoulders of "Charlie."
Supporting cast is wasted by the placing of some sinister, off kilter quirk on most of the film's other characters. Dylan Baker, the local sheriff, is under suspicion because he has keys to all the cottages on the lake and arrives at pointedly significant times. Others, like the realtor who shows up at 2:00AM to "leave a set of keys" or the neighbors who act really weird after losing their own daughter are introduced to deflect suspicion from the true monster – unsuccessfully. Elizabeth Shue has "victim" written all over her character. Famke Janssen is the only one who comes across at all well as Emily's psychiatrist and friend.
It's not that "Hide and Seek" lacks creepy moments. There are several but they are so few and far between and the "surprise ending" really isn't, making this a waste of talents. Helmer John Polson, whose prior claim to fame is "Swimfan," does a routine, even stodgy, job in building his horror tale. Of course, the script, by first time screenwriter Ari Schlossberg, is also to blame by using clichéd and oft-told story of…I better not say any more, in case you don't take my advice and blow your hard earned bucks seeing this at the theater. If you must see it, wait until it is available for DVD rental and spend the money you saved to order a pizza. I give it a D+.
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