100 Feet Reviews

Eric Red's return to horror filmmaking twelve years after Bad Moon is a diverting but uneven affair. 100 Feet is at its best early on: this section of the film gives Famke Janssen a chance to reveal the layers of her characterization while it slowly builds tension. As a writer, Red shows a pleasing sensitivity and depth with the characterization of his heroine and Janssen gives a strong, committed performance that wins the viewer over. Unfortunately, 100 Feet begins to strain credibility as it goes for bigger and bolder scares, culminating in an overblown finale that favors pyrotechnics over performances. This is a shame because Red's direction show a nice flair for atmosphere (the brownstone set is used to spooky effect throughout) and he gets a strong overall level of performance from his cast. Ed Westwick makes a likeable impression as a teen who befriends Janssen and Patricia Charbonneau does well in a one-scene role as Janssen's bitter sister. Elsewhere, Bobby Cannavale delivers plenty of intensity as the cop on Janssen's case but his work is undermined by the inconsistent nature of his characterization. To sum up, 100 Feet is a decent, frequently compelling chiller but ultimately manages to fall short of the promise established during its first half.