(2009)
2.5
Jason Buchanan
A deliciously creepy concept and some eerie visuals serve as the strong points of writer/director Pablo Proenza's Dark Mirror, an ambitious yet modestly budgeted psychological thriller/supernatural mystery that manages to sustain an effective level of hyper-saturated tension throughout. The story centers on a family that moves into a home previously occupied by an eccentric artist who disappeared, along with his entire family, under mysterious circumstances. The deeper photographer Deborah Martin (Lisa Vidal) delves into the artist's past, the more convinced she becomes that the ornate glass windows and mysterious bathroom mirror in her new home hold a sinister secret. Of course, ominous mirrors are nothing new in the realm of horror, though when used for more than simple jump scares they can become an interesting vehicle for a journey into the unknown. Dark Mirror sets up a compelling mystery in which mirrors serve as a gateway between two worlds, and throws in some psychological drama to keep things interesting. Seductively luminescent courtesy of cinematographer Armando Salas, the film stands apart from the vast majority of darkness-shrouded shockers, and emerges somewhat more effective because of that unique trait. The light in Dark Mirror seems to shine out of pure malevolence, and while the story is somewhat predictable, it's that shimmering terror that makes it worth a look on a rainy day.
Dark Mirror on AllMovie
Dark Mirror (2009)
