Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “Twilight Zone”, “Legion”, and “Saw”

This is the first supernatural tale made for the Night Chronicles - the trilogy created by whom else but M. Night 'it-seems-only-Sixth-Sense-made-sense' Shyamalan. And if you think "Oh boy, not another complicated storyline with stinker ending", well, think again.

Directed by John Erick Dowdle ("The Poughkeepsie Tapes", "Quarantine") and starred by an ensemble of unpopular names, this movie is surprisingly engaging and will keep you at the edge of your seat. With the tinge of Stephen King-esque sense of macabre and a familiar "Twilight Zone" feel (especially in its morbid background score), this will surely be a great pick for those who love the mixture theme of the triple S - suffering, standing firm and Satan, with a little bit of the discussion on retribution and redemption.

The elevator plot is simple, appealing and although at times predictable, it still grabs your attention until the very last minute. There are a few characters that develop well, although you might cringe at how Hollywood still can't back away from the winning "1Hollywood" formula to the fact that somehow, you can just make the "Sherlock Holmes" intelligent deduction way before the mystery is solved. And yet, you tend to be forgiving when the pace and effects are done with such excellence that it reminds you of those European gore films like Adam Mason's "The Devil's Chair" or Ruzowitzky's "Anatomie".

However, one has to concur to the fact while it is a great watch; it is not in any way a fresh subject or even mind blowing. Therefore, some of the dialogues tend to be preachy and straight up textbook-ish - true to Shyamalan's style.

The Night Chronicle is currently working on the second part of the trilogy, it seems, entitled "Twelve Strangers" and yet to announce the person who is going to be on the director's seat. But if he's smart enough, I'd say he'll pick the same guy again.

Cinema Online, 17 September 2010