Essentially, for a thriller to function as it is intended, there must be an element of risk, with the final outcome of events suspended to create anxiety and/or excitement. ![]() Much like in horror films, there is an established set of “rules” to accomplish this, with room for variation on the basic formula. There are some that merely exist to entertain and thrill us, for lack of a better term. Not every thriller can be revolutionary though. Oldboy pushed what is considered acceptable in mainstream cinema, especially in terms of violence, to the extreme, while Black Swan managed to integrate surreal psychological manifestations into an otherwise believable and engaging story. Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy (2003) and Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan (2010) come to mind, albeit for different reasons. It helps move things along even if it isn’t especially novel.While thrillers are not generally my favorite kind of film, there are a number of very well-made and entertaining entries in the genre. There’s an us-versus-them dynamic ingrained in the plot, with Chris being blamed for what’s happening to him because he’s so wealthy, so far removed from the struggles of everyday folks. Chris is so passive and undynamic a protagonist - not to mention foolish in the way he walks right into his own misfortunes - that it’s difficult to muster as much sympathy for his plight as we’re clearly meant to. Whether intentional or not, you’re almost inclined to root for her when push comes to shove. Krug has the meatier role, and also has more fun with it - just because we know there’s more to Sky than she’s letting on doesn’t mean there isn’t some joy to be had in finding out just what that might be, especially with the dialed-up-to-10 energy she displays throughout. Much of that comes down to Monaghan, whose acting chops can’t overcome how staid and wooden Chris is. The film seeks to be pulse-pounding and sophisticated all at once, and is often too restrained for its own good - a fuller commitment to the inherently over-the-top plot would have served the story better. What follows has shades of everything from “Misery” to “Audition,” albeit with little of either film’s bawdy bravura. That’s understandable given her charm and beauty, but to say that we see where this is headed before he does would be an understatement. To its benefit, “Shattered” keeps you on your toes from the very first despite this fishy setup, training you to wonder whether there’s more to each strange incident - a habit that would benefit security-obsessed Chris ( Cameron Monaghan), a tech millionaire who lets his guard down time and again when it comes to Sky (Krug). That rule about something seeming too good to be true? Let’s just say it applies when you meet a beautiful woman at the grocery store, her Uber cancels on her, and she isn’t in the mood to go home because her troublesome roommate is there. Written by David Loughery and directed by Luis Prieto, “Shattered” comes across as an update on the thrillers of yore - just with the wrong elements updated. ![]() ![]() The bad news is that, despite a game performance from Lilly Krug, the next “Basic Instinct” this is not. The good news is that “ Shattered” is very much an erotic thriller, complete with femme fatale and out-of-his-depth protagonist. If you’ve been awaiting the triumphant return of the erotic thriller, there’s good news and bad news.
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