By Nick Gonzales
Herald staff writer
What if the kid from “The Sixth Sense” grew up and became Marty McFly from “Back to the Future”? “Odd Thomas” does its best to answer that question. Tongue-in-cheek and quirky, the film is based on a series of novels by Dean Koontz.
Odd, the titular character played by the late Anton Yelchin, is a fry cook with a secret – he can see dead people. Naturally, the ability to speak to murder victims comes in handy for finding killers, leading Odd to befriend the local police chief (played by Willem Dafoe). When a horde of fear-seeking demons that only he can see appears and heralds a coming catastrophe, Odd must unravel a satanic conspiracy.
The plot takes a while to get going, but once it does, “Odd Thomas” is surprisingly gripping. This is largely thanks to the acting chops of Yelchin and Addison Timlin, who plays Odd’s girlfriend, Stormy. Their onscreen dynamic is quite reminiscent of Michael J. Fox and Elisabeth Shue in “Back to the Future Part II.” Played by anyone else, the story would have seemed contrived and the romantic scenes cloying, but they pull it off.
The setting of “Odd Thomas” – the fictional New Mexico town of Pico Mundo – is also worth mentioning. Filmed quite a bit in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the movie does a great job of building a world and community and then putting them in peril. Viewers who head to the Duke City for shopping will recognize a number of locales.
“Odd Thomas” isn’t perfect. Though gory, the movie could have been much scarier. And its best actor, Dafoe, doesn’t get a chance to do much. Nevertheless, the film is worth checking out just for its peculiar charm.
ngonzales@durangoherald.com. Nick Gonzales is one of The Durango Herald newsroom’s resident film buffs. He welcomes movie recommendations. Follow him on Twitter @lackingzones.
Nick’s Picks
Pontypool
Rating:
PG
Genre:
Horror
Directed by:
Bruce McDonald
Written by:
Tony Burgess
Why watch it:
More psychological thriller than zombie movie, “Pontypool” offers a relatively intelligent take on virus-based horror cinema.
Release:
2009
Available on:
Netflix, iTunes
The Nightmare
Rating:
Not rated
Genre:
Documentary, Horror
Directed by:
Rodney Ascher
Why watch it:
Interviewing sufferers of sleep paralysis-induced hallucinations, this creepy documentary profiles the monsters of the most terrifying realm – the human mind.
Release:
2015
Available on:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon
Byzantium
Rating:
R
Genre:
Horror, Drama
Directed by:
Neil Jordan
Written by:
Moira Buffini
Why watch it:
The guy who directed “Interview with the Vampire” brings to life a refreshingly different tale of two female nosferatu struggling with the curse of undeath.
Release:
2013
Available on:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon
Dead Snow
Rating:
Not rated
Genre:
Horror, Comedy
Directed by:
Tommy Wirkola
Written by:
Tommy Wirkola, Stig Frode Henriksen
Language:
Norwegian
Why watch it:
Nazi zombies. It’s gory; it’s funny without being too much of a parody. It’s Norwegian. ‘Nuff said.
Release:
2009
Available on:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon
Odd Thomas
Rating:
Not rated
Genre:
Mystery & suspense
Directed by:
Stephen Sommers
Written by:
Stephen Sommers
Release:
2014
Available on:
Netflix, iTunes, Amazon