the audience applauded

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Called in to investigate an accident, elevator repair specialists and a reporter catch on that something isn't right, and as more accidents continue to plague the building they do some investigating on the story where they piece together what went wrong and save the people trapped inside.There wasn't all that much to like about it, but what was there was enough to like. One of the better aspects found here is the fact that the premise to this is actually kind of interesting and original. This is a new one involving the haunted section of the building, and that is what gives this one some great scenes here of this one attempting to support the idea of taking this seriously in the first half which is a surprising aspect and is certainly needed quite badly. This far more realistic and straightforward setup towards such a potentially goofy storyline is quite enjoyable which is enhanced by the action scenes that comes in later in the film are quite well filmed and are actually quite interesting. From the series of malfunctions and incredibly vicious accidents that are logically played out in terms of what a potential elevator mishap can occur as well as throwing in some ingenious supernatural-based activity that can't possibly occur in real life to an elevator shaft which is furthered by the fact that the gore is pretty plentiful and has some cool deaths spread throughout here. Guided along by a thrilling action-packed finale in the shafts of the building where the race to stop the machine coupled with the antics of the authorities tracking him, these here are what hold this up over it's few minor issues. There is one thing about this movie that really drags it down a notch. The film follows a constant cycle of killing someone off, conducting an investigation only to then come across another accident, then repeating ad nauseam. It gets frustrating as it keeps happening, and we know that something is wrong and it should be an easy find for those involved, yet it continues to be an unknown factor to the authorities to find out making this section of the film pretty discouraging. Another factor that really didn't sit too well as the fact that there are at least three different explanations given for the cause of the accidents, and all three have their evidence to back them up but it just seems like a bunch of different reasons culled together to be the official explanation and no one was willing to part with any of them so they were just mixed in at different points along the way. It would've been much easier to just pick one of them and stick with it. For such a cool premise, there is little to no real tension in the film. There was no real moment that really was all that suspenseful over anything else. This really needed some scenes of tension to get a sense of fear towards the elevator. Alongside the goofiness of the situation never really given much of a thought, these here are the film's issues.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Full Nudity and a scene with a child in danger

Ever briefly get stuck in an elevator thats messing with you, malfunctioning and seems to almost have a mischievous mind of its own? That's the premise of Down, also known as The Shaft. It concerns an elevator in a huge residential/office building that has gone homicidally haywire. It traps, drops and tricks people no end, raising and lowering the interior temperature to dangerous effect and generally just being a great big meanie. No one seems so know what's going on with it though, especially the mechanic who installed it (Twin Peak's James Marshall). The incidents accumulate, attracting a perky tabloid reporter (Naomi Watts having a ball) who makes up all kinds of tall tales to explain the situation in sensationalistic terms. This infuriates the CEO of the elevator company (now there's a job title) played by a snarky Ron Perlman who gets a rant towards Marshall that walked in from a way better script (which leads me to believe it was the spawn of Perlman's legendary improv skills). There's also a cop played by Dan Hedeya who can't seem to figure it out wither. The truth is a lot more interesting than you might expect and has nothing to do with ghosts or spirits at all, but centers around a deranged research scientist (Michael Ironside, whacked out to kingdom come). It's not the least bit scary, but it's worth a watch simply for the fact that it's a movie about a damn elevator that kills people lol. Cujo and Christine ain't got nothing on this bitch. The scene where a gaggle of pregnant ladies enter the thing is just priceless in its blatantly gross out manner. Fun, fun stuff and great research to embarrass Watts with sometime down the road if you ever find yourself interviewing her on the red carpet hehe.

How so, you ask? Well, it can be a slow ride, and while it gets you where it's supposed to with relatively little issue, it's not something that's gonna stay with you for very long. I haven't watched the original that the Dutch writer/director himself remade here, but it sounds like it's essentially just a bigger version of the same thing. The key to this is that it is entirely a B-movie. You're not meant to take it seriously, it's not trying to change your life, and it is quite cheesy. Fortunately, the handful of name actors that they got for this are all "in on it", and don't attempt to change this. The characters are unlikable, bordering on obnoxious. Acting is fitting for the tone. The dialog is also appropriate, with several one-liners. FX are OK, some are almost downright good. However, even for a hammy, "dumb" and just for fun picture, this isn't wholly enjoyable. It doesn't move as fast as it should, and at an hour and 40 minutes, it is *way* too long for this sort of thing. A lot of time is spent talking, and that's not what the audience is interested in from these. The ending is great, and there is great fun to be had during this, though. Editing and cinematography are straightforward, with at least one *marvelous* cut that I imagine will be effective to most viewers. There is reasonable tension in this. The cover was shamelessly redesigned to resemble that of The Ring, to cash in on Watts being in this, as well. And no, I could not tell you who the boy(?) on there is. There is constant gratuitous strong language, and brief nudity and sexuality in this. I recommend this to fans of this type of film. 5/10

....after a blind man's and his dog's death.As the person was a vicious man ,we will not shed a tear for him,but poor dog! What saves this movie (at least in its first hour) is its sense of (black) humor.Although it's sometimes a bit over the top (the nursery school scene is sheer bad taste:it would have taken John Waters to treat it successfully),there are plenty of funny scenes if you do not take them seriously:I particularly dig the "Bergman" lines.Unfortunately,the last thirty minutes take us back to "the invincible super hero who single-handedly fights evil ".But he was a marine,we are told.Some kind of remake of the director's "de lift" (early eighties)with a more comfortable budget.It's pretty good entertainment but you'd better choose Dick Maas's "Amsterdamned" instead.