Ellen Rimbauer's Diary clearly explains that there were Native American workers, an accident, a subsequent curse, and so the ground is soured as in the Mic Mac burial grounds in Stephen King's Pet Sematary. It also pointedly states that because of John Rimbauer's "sins," atonement had to be made.
"Build me to the heavens" was the house's price for that atonement.
That the deaths started before the house was ever completed further substantiates the sour ground theory. The subsequent disappearances were a direct result of Ellen's bargain with the house (and the ground upon which it lay), as these victims were taken and used as builders from "the other side." The house had two distinct sides; one that was here and one which was on the other side of the veil. Those victims built from that side, as Ellen's contractors built on this side, thereby giving the house the ability to morph itself by changing hallways, floor levels, etc. by manipulating the lay of the Veil. That idea was further explained in the actual movie, "Rose Red" when you see Emory's mother coming at him through the mirror. Mirrors are oftentimes used as portals; gateways through the Veil.
I did, however, have issues with this supplemental in that the movie goes out of its way to plainly document the passing of Rimbauer's partner, Posey. He passed Adam the Tom Nix hat and threw a rose to April who caught it before he hangs himself. In this work, however, those poignant details are forgotten, as if the actual body of work which this supplements was negatable. I realize that for some critics, that is true, but for a work which supports another, that is unforgivable.
Of all the discrepancies and continuity errors to be found between the two works, those two details stand out the most, and pretty much kill the atmosphere built by the work. Otherwise, I found this quite informative, beautifully done, and praise-worthy considering what it attempts to do.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to its own expectations and thereby disappointed the fans who needed this necessary back-story to feel a kinship with the house and the story that is "Rose Red."
It rates a 6.4/10 from...
the Fiend :.
"Build me to the heavens" was the house's price for that atonement.
That the deaths started before the house was ever completed further substantiates the sour ground theory. The subsequent disappearances were a direct result of Ellen's bargain with the house (and the ground upon which it lay), as these victims were taken and used as builders from "the other side." The house had two distinct sides; one that was here and one which was on the other side of the veil. Those victims built from that side, as Ellen's contractors built on this side, thereby giving the house the ability to morph itself by changing hallways, floor levels, etc. by manipulating the lay of the Veil. That idea was further explained in the actual movie, "Rose Red" when you see Emory's mother coming at him through the mirror. Mirrors are oftentimes used as portals; gateways through the Veil.
I did, however, have issues with this supplemental in that the movie goes out of its way to plainly document the passing of Rimbauer's partner, Posey. He passed Adam the Tom Nix hat and threw a rose to April who caught it before he hangs himself. In this work, however, those poignant details are forgotten, as if the actual body of work which this supplements was negatable. I realize that for some critics, that is true, but for a work which supports another, that is unforgivable.
Of all the discrepancies and continuity errors to be found between the two works, those two details stand out the most, and pretty much kill the atmosphere built by the work. Otherwise, I found this quite informative, beautifully done, and praise-worthy considering what it attempts to do.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to its own expectations and thereby disappointed the fans who needed this necessary back-story to feel a kinship with the house and the story that is "Rose Red."
It rates a 6.4/10 from...
the Fiend :.