special sneak preview be always a good time . no matter what movie it be you be see and the theatre will always be pack by people who have be await the film and like free stuff and think it would be something to do and or just get lose . either way and no matter how good or bad the film and the audience alone will make it enjoyable . now when say movie be a pg 13 pseudo horror film ( can you really delve into horror when the mpaa be on your back censor everything . ) you know there will be chatter and laughing and and breath holding . with the messenger and the crowd do not disappoint give numerous outburst and warning to the character on screen . a for the actual movie and i feel sorry for those involve because it really could have be much well have it be pace right and allow to stretch it leg beyond the scare or fade to black or show aftermath progression these film have . in the end we be show a boring and plod story with no surprise and few moment of actual suspense . the story be a common one . a family move from the big city to the country after a traumatic event to try and rebuild their relationship with each other . once settle in and the spirit of the house come out to the reform troublemaker child whose past make it even easier for the parent to disbelieve everything told to them . of course the child be not cry wolf and those around only find out when it be too late . i will credit the pang brother and ( director of the acclaim the eye that i would like to watch more than before to see what they can do without hollywood interferencesupposedly reshoots on the messenger be do by someone else and but the brother retain credit while it a shame what our studio system do to foreigner especially when it be creative independence which make the film that bring them in and not bottomline interference ) and for really have a fitting style and for keep the tired plot line somewhat fresh . unfortunately and though and i also must give them credit for the almost unbearable slowness . similar to why i dislike what lie beneath and i couldn not stand the drawn out suspense and which go so far a to make it laughable . when our heroine and her brother stand in a hallway with a ghost behind them and the scene last about eight minute with just static and oddly compose close ups and depth of field focus change to end up culminate to absolutely nothing . for be only 84 minute and i almost think it would have work well even short . besides a very effective opening sequence and feature the fantastic jodelle ferland and ( strangely play a boy ) and and a great atmospheric credit sequence and the only thing that save the film from utter garbage be the act . except for penelope ann miller and who first make me wonder what ever happen to her and then and after a few scene and make me understand why i never ask that question in the year she be absent and and dustin milligan and completely lack in credibility and the acting be very strong . dyan mcdermott do a nice job a the father try to keep his family together through all the tough time . he have many little moment of light comedy to counteract his serious and dramatic role . william b. davis ( everyone favorite cancerman ) be use effectively a an almost foreboding character and sadly not utilize more . our true star be kristen stewart and john corbett . stewart play the emotion very well and show some promise a an actress with this and panic room on her resume . a for corbett and if he do not pull off his role and the entire movie would have unravel completely . i do wish he would be give more work a i have enjoy him since the under appreciated series the visitori still need to check out his first role in northern exposure and a show i haven not yet be able to catch up on . it a shame he will probably be most recognizable for the overrated my big fat greek wedding . if anything and the messenger give me a nice introduction to the pang brother work and reinvigorate my desire to check out their chinese horror catalog . the mood and performance be there while it be just the simple and vacant story that need way too much padding to make a feature film . if they delve more into other character and rather than just stewart and it could have be more effective while also have something more to show then ten minute scene of nothing . if our protagonist be the only one be attack and there be no suspense a to how far the creature will go to harm her . the moment of danger have no gravity to them and until the end really just stood in a filler . i be excite and however and for the free comic book give away after the special screening and a hopefully the medium will allow for a faster pace story that engross before it try to surprise .