The Lovely Bones

I went to see this last Saturday. I don't often go to the cinema by myself but this was one occasion when I did and I think it was probably for the best. You also don't often get reviews of films that focus on the rating the film has been given, it's not usually very interesting but I think it's quite poignant in this case.

The Lovely Bones is rated 12A but I would strongly advise against letting your 12 year old or younger child see it, it's really quite disturbing. The plot follows the fictional - but obviously inspired by true stories - account of the last few days in the life of 1970s teenager Susie Salmon and then her abduction and murder by a neighbourhood serial killer, played creepily well by Stanley Tucci. However, Susie doesn't pass away never to be heard of again, she spends the next few years in the "In between" watching her family grieve and move on, and watching her killer as he prepares to strike again.

It's directed by Peter Jackson and there are some great sweeping fantasy landscapes in Susie's new world and beautiful special effects but that's where the Lord of The Rings comparisons end. Despite the fact that this is a fantasy film about a haunting it's incredibly real and totally chilling. Perhaps more so because it's a 12A and your expectations are innocent, you know you won't actually witness any violence but its what you don't see but know is going to happen that is so stomach churning.
With disarming honesty, Susie tells you in the first scene that she was raped and murdered in December 1973 and more disarmingly lets you join her as she follows her killer towards her death, and stay with her up until the final moments which seem to pass achingly slowly as you try your best not to shout out "run!" in the middle of the cinema. This would have been less upsetting had it been a reconstruction of a real life event, because of course no one can ever reconstruct those last few moments, you're forced to watch played out what is normally left to the imagination and watch the fear grow inside the victim as they realise their time is running out.

Jackson plays off the upsetting reality of the film against slightly confusing out of sequence wanderings in the epic and stunningly painted spirit world which comfortingly suits the childlike Susie better than the harsh world she's left behind. Look out for a change of scene for Mark Whalberg as Susie's dad. Rachel Weisz looks stunning as her mother, and Susan Sarandon is ageing disgracefully as her grandmother, if slightly wasted in a small role.

I haven't read the book on which this film is based so I'm sure there's things I'm missing here but a lot of the time the film seems to be making a comment on how life has changed since 1973, as Susie says "This was in the days before missing children used to appear on milk cartons" and on how careless we seemed then about our childrens' safety.
This film is well acted - Saoirse Ronan, the beautiful lead steals your heart from the first line - and very colourful - not least the funky 70s clothing, at times it's cute but don't be fooled it's bone chilling. I can't remember ever feeling as scared in the cinema as I did in parts of this. The final sad conclusion regarding Susie's remains reminds you just what you're dealing with here, 12A rating or not.