The film was originally scripted as a straightforward remake of the 2003 South Korean horror film Into the Mirror (2003). However, once Alexandre Aja was brought on board and read the script, he was dissatisfied with the particulars of the original film's story. He decided to retain the original film's basic idea involving mirrors, and to incorporate a few of its scenes, but change the story dramatically.
Gary Lewis:
Oh fuck!
(at around 25 mins) Near the beginning, Ben puts his left hand on the mirror. Suddenly, a large bloody gash is across his palm. When gets up, the blood and slash is gone. He catches on imaginary fire, it goes out, and his hand is still okay. When he gets home, his hand is bloody and cut again.
After the end of the credits, the title appears, but backwards.
UK theatrical version was cut by distributor Fox to secure a more commercial '15' rating. The edits included the removal of a blood splash in the opening throat slashing, shots of a burned and partially naked woman screaming, shots of a woman's jaw being torn apart, and close-ups of a neck being cut with scissors. The DVD was upgraded to an '18' certificate and features the full uncut print.
English
$35,000,000 (estimated)
$11,161,074 17 August 2008
$30,691,439
$78,094,714