House of Voices: Movie & DVD Review (2005)

(Originally published 2005)

From French director Pascal Laugier, an old-fashioned creepy set in an abandoned institution for orphans.

The tense, effective opening scene involves two kids chancing into the night for a bathroom reprieve; it's noteworthy for the suspense it creates and it prepares you the promise of something special to come.

Unfortunately, promises were meant to be broken.

The rest of the movie is silly and derivative, not awful, not great, with actress Virginia Ledoyen joining character actors Lou Doillon as the ghostly Judith and shifty Dorina Lazar as Helenka the meddling cook in fleshing out an increasingly shaky story that bleeds into a bum ending.

Previously released under the title "Saint Ange," the movie has a whiff of the supernatural thriller, "The Others," about it, but there's no mistaking that the latter film is superior.

Grade: C