THE BROKEN
UK, 2008, 88 minutes, Colour.
Lena Headey, Richard Jenkins, Asier Newman, Michelle Duncan, Melvil Poupaud, Ulrich Thomsen.
Directed by Sean Ellis.
When one reads that writer-director, Sean Ellis, has been a fashion photographer, it is clear where The Broken gets its stylish look from. And, visually stylish it is with its aerial views of London, its vivid photography of streets and homes and with its sinister moments.
This is a film about mirrors and those who live behind mirrors – and who emerges for not only seven years' bad luck but immediate taking over of the real life selves. There are malevolent doppelgangers behind the mirrors and when they get out, they are merciless. Not a new idea, of course. Kiefer Sutherland discovered this to his cost in the 2008 Mirrors which, in turn, was a remake of a Korean film while the Japanese made Into the Mirror.
There is a certain trickiness in The Broken while we try to work out who is who, especially with Gina, played by Lena Headey. Just when you think you are seeing the malevolent mirror Gina, it turns out to be the nice one and vice versa. (There is also some crypto-science in the background about the rare number of people who have their heart on the right side.) It is clearer with Gina's French boyfriend, Melvil Poupard. He is destroyed and the mirror boyfriend has invaded him. And there is a gory scene where Gina's sister-in-law is taken over.
The other central character is Gina's father, played by American Richard Jenkins (The Visitor).
After a brain-tormenting opening quotation from Edgar Alan Poe about murdering the other self within us, those who want to stay with the film have a demanding task in sorting out what has happened. The dog in the film is credited as Kubrick Ellis – now that's a homage to The Shining!
1.A London horror story? Doubles, doppelgangers, alternate worlds?
2.The glossy look of the film, the director as a fashion photographer, his capturing the atmosphere of London, the city, the streets? The production design? Characters?
3.The title, the mirrors, the alternate people? The actual people and their brokenness? The musical score?
4.The plot and the mystery, the information about those who had their heart on the right side? A physical medical explanation? Or unexplained horror? The characters, their lives, alternate characters, their deaths? Gina and her other self? The mystery of which was which?
5.Gina, at the hospital, her work, her ordinary life, her relationship with Steve, with the doctors, the information about the hearts? Going to her father’s celebration? Danny and his wife? The enjoyment, Steve present? The impact of the breaking mirror? The traditions of breaking mirrors and bad luck? The mirror and the opening to another world on the other side of the mirror?
6.Steve, his transformation, becoming murderous, attacking Kate? The character change?
7.Gina and seeing her other self, driving the car, on the street? The real Gina driving or watching? The accident, hospital? Steve and his behaviour? The doctor and his diagnosis of what was happening? Her dream and the blood seeping through the roof?
8.The car, finding the photo, the other Gina, with her father?
9.Kate, in the bathroom, the mirror, her other self, the violent attack and her death?
10.Steve’s flat, Gina’s search, finding his corpse? Phoning her father to warn him? Steve’s double appearing, the attack on her – and echoes of Psycho?
11.Daniel, the investigation about her flat, finding that the double was in her own flat? Her visit, the attack, the death – and Gina’s realisation that she was the double?
12.The hospital, Gina, Daniel coming, warning him to run?
13.Gina going to her father, his listening, his advice?
13.An eerie atmosphere? Questions of identity, alien selves taking over, the fate of the true self?
