The movie is predictable in it's plot, but unique enough in it's execution (until it's final scene) that you want to keep watching. This combination makes it a movie you can watch more than once without losing interest.
The cast was great, although Reese Witherspoon does over act her emotions on occasion, and Mark Whalburg slips in and out of his accent. Alyssa Malano isn't bad either, although she brings nothing new to a typically scripted character.
There was ample opportunity to give this movie more depth and originality, but it seems the writers went for a familiar story line without giving it the time and thought it deserves. The biggest plot misses for me were;
1. Nobody has a cell phone. Although at the time the movie was made (1996) cell phones weren't what they are today, given that they have been available most people since the 1980's it doesn't make sense that a businessman like Steven, who seems to work around the clock, wouldn't have one
2. When Nicole is looking in through the window and catches David and Margot about to have sex, it is very clear that it is against Margot's will.In fact, it is a very unsafe situation she is in, yet Nicole leaves, only making the decision not to be with David anymore. She doesn't try stop it from happening, or get her friend help, or check on her after. I lost respect for the character after this, as essentially what she witnessed was her best friend's rape, yet she couldn't see past her own hurt feelings. It would have been a more powerful "break up scene" had she helped Margot and confronted David.
3. Later in the movie, Nicole confronts Margot about what happened with David, and Margot says she was forced into it (which Nicole saw first hand). Rather than Nicole not being able to see or be there for her friend because of her own trauma, or being angry at Margot for not warning her about the type of man David was, she was actually upset about the fact that Margot had sex with David at all. In fact, she reacted as though this was an affair Margot had happily participated in, and not the sexual assault that it was. I was disappointed at the approach the writers took, and felt more sympathy for Margot than Nicole, feeling Nicole was the bad friend in that scenario. Again, I felt It would have been a more powerful storyline to have this shared bad experience with David strengthen the girls' bond - especially given Margot's presence in Nicole's house anyway for the final scene.
4. On a similar note, as Margot was with David's friend and presumably at the house regularly (enough to be comfortably having sex with the friend in a crowded living room), surely she would have witnessed the dark side of David that Nicole clearly knew nothing about?
5. During the final scene, Laura tells Steven the house cannot be broken into and he should know this as he designed it himself. She then lists the numerous reinforcements he put in place to secure it. Given how much thought he obviously put into the security of the house, and that he does this for a living, why would he overlook something as simple as a security gate at the bottom of the stairs? On the off chance intruders get in, the family can hide safely upstairs and at the very least buy themselves some time.
6. In the same regard, why not have an emergency back up telephone line - or a handheld transceiver perhaps - to the guard house? Or a safe with a gun?
7. After what David did to the car, and the fear over Nicole's safety, and Steven trashing David's house knowing there would be retaliation, why didn't Nicole at least carry pepper spray with her? And why wasn't the security guard informed of the situation, given they had even informed the school?
8. Margot arrives and shortly after the house is attacked. Didn't she see them following her? And if they arrived before her and hid, why not barge in when the door was opened to let her in?
9. Gary is beaten to death in the woods near after school. By that same evening Margot is at Nicole's house to inform her of his murder. It seems implausible that this would be enough time for his body to be discovered and the crime scene investigated enough for Margot to know that not only has he died, but how he was murdered. The movie doesn't depict any close relationship between them that the family would call her, and if they did call why not call Nicole, his best friend, first? And they couldn't have heard from the school, as it happened after school hours.
Although these are my burning questions, I was able to look past them and enioy the movie nonetheless. I've actually watched it more than once and would happily watch it again. I would recommend it to anyone who can enjoy a movie that is what it is, pure entertainment without trying to be anything more.
