Screenwriter Alice (Brittany Murphy) has been traumatized, stressed out, physically attacked, and besieged with work-related deadlines — so naturally she decides the best thing to do is hole up in an old, creaky Gothic mansion, miles away from civilization (and law enforcement). As if to further tempt fate, she perishes the thought of even keeping a car in the driveway, and keeps a loaded revolver in her suitcase. Writer-director Sean McConville explains her neurotic behavior well enough, adding a voice of reason in the form of Alice's best friend, Rebecca (Tammy Blanchard).
Deadline's glossy veneer — a competent, talented cast, and super-luscious cinematography — weathers quite well throughout most of the storm (a big, lonely house; a lone female protagonist; and ghosts…? You know there's a storm gathering) but doesn't quite hide all the cracks.
Shortly after Rebecca drops Alice off and leaves her in the dark, gloomy house, Alice gets her computer set up in the nearest picture window and begins her screenplay. But noises from the basement (or is it the attic?) compel her to investigate their source. Is that a baby crying, or just a groaning bathpipe? Is someone walking on the squeaky floorboards, or is it simply house-settling? This goes on for awhile, and while I do commend the sound design and remark favorably on the cinematography, there is little authentic suspense. Part of the problem is an aggressive, relentless music score which doesn't leave any room for unease to creep in. Murphy is fine as the heroine, but it does sometimes feel as though the character's lack of direction might also have spilled into real life.
In a subplot which flashes back to a bad incident that occurred in that very self-same structure (shocker!), Thora Birch and Marc Blucas play expectant young parents. Their story unfolds through Alice's discovery of their home movies stashed in the basement (or is it the attic?). As Alice watches the videos in order, she starts to see a scary side of the husband come to the fore as he relentlessly and obtrusively documents his wife (Birch, though she herself has been on camera since she was four, does a great job of portraying someone who's uncomfortable being filmed). Once again Deadline's camera department is to be commended, for making the videos seem organic but without the use of camera-shake or relying strictly on POV shots.
Overall, I found Deadline to be dead-dull and its "surprise, twist!" ending anything but… however, I can't say it's not well-acted or pretty to look at. The Additional Release Material on the DVD rightfully gives several minutes to the DP and camera operator, the production designer and set decorator, and behind-the-scenes footage which details the ins and out of shooting in the practical-locations. Of the actors, Birch comes off the wisest, giving an answer I haven't heard worded quite as well in response to the question, "What's it like working with a first-time director?"
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson