"Stretched" - a review by andy-jWhen serial killer Edgar Reese is executed, John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), the cop who put him behind bars, is finally able to relax. Or so he thought... Suddenly people are being killed in the exact same way that Reese murdered his victims, but it is clear that this isn't a copy-cat. Strangers in the street are suddenly taking on the mannerisms of Reese, taunting Hobbes, then just as quickly returning to normal. After some digging around, Hobbes discovers that there a lot more going on than meets the eye - Azazel, an evil spirit, is focused on Hobbes, and is determined to torture and kill him. How can Hobbes and his partner Jones (John Goodman) possibly stop Azazel?
Fallen is an interesting mix of unlikely genres. It's seen from the cop's perspective, and contains a fair amount of police investigation, which, when done properly (which it is), is always entertaining. It soon becomes about a lot more than this - the supernatural element is thrown in, and is balanced nicely by the fact that everything is still seen from Hobbes' eyes. So rather than getting swept away by an impossible-to-swallow plot, the movie manages to keep things plausible by focusing instead of Hobbes and his reactions. Washington does well here, he is believable, and he manages to add a subtle touch of depth to Hobbes, even though it isn't necessarily required. The story moves quite well - there are some tense moments - Hobbes' first visit to the cabin in the woods springs to mind, but then again, there are parts where the whole thing feels a little flat and drawn out.
I enjoyed Fallen. It did seem overly long in places and took its time getting to the end, but the ending is very good - there's a nice little twist in there that really threw me. Worth seeing.
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