While "Under the Bed" may have been based on a true story, the credibility of the home invasion of a female journalist was stretched to the breaking point. Above all, the film was downright unpleasant to watch.
Part of the problem of the film was the style. The filmmaker adopted a cinéma vérité approach with a handheld camera that was so jittery that it nearly induced nausea. It was never made believable that Callie would not have sensed right away that an intruder was in her home.
There were too many items out of place and too many telltale signs, such as a big bite out of an apple and the drinking of Callie's breakfast smoothie. With Callie in the same room with the smelly psychopath, she would have been alerted to his presence through the senses, his disgusting smell, his breathing, and other movements while he was under her bed.
Despite the able performances of the cast, "Under the Bed" did not work as either docudrama or thriller. It was a horror story from start to finish and a film that merits liberal use of the fast forward button for the discriminating viewer.
Part of the problem of the film was the style. The filmmaker adopted a cinéma vérité approach with a handheld camera that was so jittery that it nearly induced nausea. It was never made believable that Callie would not have sensed right away that an intruder was in her home.
There were too many items out of place and too many telltale signs, such as a big bite out of an apple and the drinking of Callie's breakfast smoothie. With Callie in the same room with the smelly psychopath, she would have been alerted to his presence through the senses, his disgusting smell, his breathing, and other movements while he was under her bed.
Despite the able performances of the cast, "Under the Bed" did not work as either docudrama or thriller. It was a horror story from start to finish and a film that merits liberal use of the fast forward button for the discriminating viewer.