Plot
A tight-knit team of rising investigators, along with their supervisor, is suddenly torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered.

Release Year: 2015

Rating: 6.1/10 (164 voted)

Critic's Score: /100

Director: Billy Ray

Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts

Storyline
A tight-knit team of rising investigators - Ray and Jess, along with their supervisor Claire - is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess's teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered. Now, thirteen years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he's certain can permanently resolve the case, nail the vicious murderer, and bring long-desired closure to his team. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking, unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul.

Writers: Billy Ray, Juan José Campanella

Cast:
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Ray
Nicole Kidman - Claire
Julia Roberts - Jess
Dean Norris - Bumpy Willis
Alfred Molina - Martin Morales
Joe Cole - Marzin / Beckwith
Michael Kelly - Reg Siefert
Zoe Graham - Carolyn Cobb
Patrick Davis - Luis
Eileen Fogarty - Receptionist-Angie
Lyndon Smith - Kit
Kim Yarbrough - Nan
Mark Famiglietti - Duty Sergeant
Amir Malaklou - Aban Ghazala
Niko Nicotera - Hammer / Chop Shop Thug

Taglines: Don't look closer

Official Website: Official Facebook | Official Site

Country: USA

Language: English

Release Date: 20 November 2015

Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts are both previous 2014 Oscar nominees. Ejiofor was nominated for 12 Years A Slave (2013) and Roberts was nominated for August: Osage County (2013). See more »

Author:

Rating: 5/10

If you haven't seen "El Segreto de sus ojos" I beg you to stop reading and go check it out, it is, in my opinion, one of those rare and pure thrillers that keeps you glued to the screen for two hours. Yet, despite loving the original, I wasn't going into this one ready to bitch about it. I am someone who is very sniffy about remakes, but hey if you have an fascinating premise that can be explored through various styles and dynamics I am all for it. Especially in this case, I think that keeping some of the core material and turning other parts completely around could have made for a fascinating narrative, unfortunately the American remake, with the exception of maybe two or three ides, doesn't improve, explore or further the original in anyway and sometimes even edges the shot-by-shot remake treatment.

Look, this isn't a terrible thriller, but the emotional beats you are carried through are just the same of the original, it really seemed to be watching a cheap version of it. It is way too reminiscent of the original and at some moments I really felt exactly when I saw it. Whilst at other moments I kind of felt sorry for the remake because it doesn't manage to replicate some of the amazing photography the first one had and actually miserably fails: this film has some really, noticeably cheap cinematography and editing.

The performances are all kind of off beat. Julia Roberts is definitely the best one, even though she also has some low points. The rest of the cast is just flat honestly. Nobody even tries to come in and give it some palpable passion. The film is also inconsistent with tone and I am not sure they understood the fascination of the original because a lot of the focus points are just sidelined or shoehorned in.

That's also a real bummer, because the film does have just a couple of good ideas that aren't simply built on. They tread too much of the same ground and do it in a way that is simply too familiar. I can maybe think of one thing that was improved upon and that is mainly thanks to Julia Roberts' talent. The score is something that positively sticks out and probably the purest good thing to come out of the film.

In the end we are treated to a fine thriller that doesn't live up to its potential and only manages to justify its length thanks to memories of the original and the same emotions instead of relevant improvement and originality.

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