I watched this some time ago in Rehab - and I have been mulling it over for a while.
You'll probably find a lot of folks that won't like THE RESIDENT, as this is the sort of film that gets under your skin, makes you feel icky and ultimately could reduce your potential to get dates if you say you liked it... much less loved it. Since I'm married, it's safe for me to admit, I loved THE RESIDENT.
Two days ago it got released in Kuwait, it has had a very limited release thus far in the United States, but is due to hit DVD & Blu-Ray at the end of March - which is a damn shame because this is a very strong thriller.
First off - it is shot by the wonderful Guillermo Navarro, so the entire film just looks beautiful. In fact, Hillary Swank has never looked so beautiful. For you pervs, there is nudity, and Swank is stunning. Her skin positively glows in this film, but more so... San Francisco just looks beautiful.
Second, the score is handled by John Ottman... a geek fave, who does not also "edit" as he usually does, but his score is top notch.
Third, Jeffrey Dean Morgan with Christopher Lee as his father are just supremely fucking creepy. But let me tell you about the film...
Hilary Swank is a young doctor who is looking for a place to live. This strikes me a bit funny as half of the young hot physical therapists working with me in Rehab are single and looking for a new place to live, she ends up going to Jeffrey Dean Morgan's amazing corner building that has a gorgeous insanely large, too good to be true, flat for rent... He's charming and sweet. The rent is entirely reasonable. She grabs it, and they fast become friends.
Turns out that Hilary Swank's Juliet had a boyfriend that she was seriously in love with, it went bad, but she was desperately hung up on him. She decides to use Jeffrey Dean Morgan as her rebound boyfriend, and right as it is about to get to the scene that all the women and all the men in the audience want to see... she, breaks down. She's still too much in love with her ex. She just wants to be friends.
Meanwhile... We, the audience, have been squirming the whole time, because we know that Jeffrey's MAX has rigged the apartment with mirrors that he can watch her through the otherside. We've seen him masturbate in her bathtub while she's gone. And we've seen scenes with him and his father, played by Christopher Lee... which in and of themselves tells us... she should run.
Where the film goes from this point, I will not spoil, but if you're a single woman, afraid of noises in your home, fearful of intruders... this may not be the best film for your sleep schedule.
Gals with crushes on Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Avoid. This will crush your crush. He's genuinely so damn creepy that you won't be able to think anything, but... GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVIL FUCKED UP FUCK! Jeffrey shot for the big green wall in the backfield on this one and nailed it. He is incredibly messed up. Where his character goes, what his character does... it's nightmares man. Makes PACIFIC HEIGHTS look as limp as it was.
However, if you like disturbing creepy, nightmare inducing ick-outs - Hammer's THE RESIDENT is exactly made to order. It is sexy & wrong. Horrifying, suspenseful and has many great jump moments. But if this isn't your type of film - you'll hate it - it puts terrible unsafe notions into your head. And if you hate landlords, woo boy, this is a doozy. Jeffrey Dean is easily the worst landlord ever. I mean, Norman Bates just ran a rinky dink motel... but he didn't do what Jeffrey's MAX does. ICK!
A true Squirm & Squeal.
HAMMER is 2 for 2 now with this and LET ME IN. Can't wait to see their next. They're doing what these films are supposed to do.
