The Return (2006/I)

Director:

Asif Kapadia

Writer (WGA):

Adam Sussman (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

This November, fear comes home.

Plot:

Joanna Mills, a traveling business woman, begins having nightmares of a murder that occurred 15 years ago. Soon she is drawn to an old farmhouse, where the murder took place.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Nightmare | Barn | Texas | Farmhouse

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Joanna Mills
Peter O'Brien	...	Terry Stahl
Adam Scott	...	Kurt
Kate Beahan	...	Michelle
Sam Shepard	...	Ed Mills
J.C. MacKenzie	...	Griff / Young Griff
Erinn Allison	...	Annie
Darrian McClanahan	...	Young Joanna Mills
Wally Welch	...	Snack Stand Vendor
Frank Ertl	...	Ambrose Miller
Brad Leland	...	Mr. Marlin
Bonnie Gallup	...	Bella
Brent Smiga	...	Higgins
Robert Wilson	...	Billy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erica Jones	...	Additional voices (voice)
Angela Rawna	...	Doctor

Also Known As:

Revolver (USA) (working title)
Untitled Supernatural Thriller (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Rosey Film Productions LLC

Trivia:

When asked at the beginning of the project who she wanted to play her father, Sarah Michelle Gellar jokingly responded that she wanted Sam Shepard. Months later it was confirmed, to Gellar's disbelief, that Shepard agreed to take the role.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Joanna drives through the salt flat of Texas, the shot has been reversed. Most notably, Guadalupe Peak in the background is inverted.

Quotes:

Ed Mills: When you were 11 years old, you became violent. You started seeing things. You started to hurt yourself. Doctor said we were lucky you didn't hit an artery. He said it was some kind of breakdown. You were a whole different girl after that Joanna. I couldn't control you, honey.
Joanna Mills: Control me? Dad, it is not normal for an 11 year old girl to cut herself. I was trying to tell you I needed help. I still...

Movie Connections:

References The Grudge (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Refuge

Underrated Supernatural Thriller

The restless sales representative of a transport company Joanna Mills (Sarah Michelle Gellar) travels from Saint Louis to Texas in a business trip. She is haunted by violent visions and after meeting her client, she visits her lonely father. On the next morning, she decides to visit La Salle, a small town where she has never been before, but she had recollections of many locations. She lodges in a hotel and later she meets and is befriended by the local widower Terry Stahl (Peter O'Brien), who helps her from an aggression. Her daydreams and nightmares increase and she becomes obsessed for disclosing the truth about her visions of a brutal murder of a woman in a barn. Along her investigation, Joanna gets close to the killer and feels that her life is in danger.

I bought this DVD first because I am a huge fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar, the eternal Buffy, and also because I like supernatural stories. Fortunately I have disregarded the low IMDb User Rating since this film is an underrated supernatural thriller. The plot explores the concept of reincarnation in an adequate pace, unraveling the mystery in the last scenes. The direction is sharp and Sarah gives credibility to her character. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Retorno" ("The Return")