Viewed – 25 June 2014  Netflix

I thought I’d get back into some Netflix viewing, and so we come to this more interesting choice.  Leelee Sobieski (er… Eyes Wide Shut?) plays a teenage girl who along with her younger brother, are orphaned when their parents die in a car crash.  They are then taken in by their parent’s wealthy friends, the Glass’s, played by Diane Lane and Stellan Skarsgård, who may or may not be what they appear to be.

Typical psychological thriller territory is livened up by a strong lead performance from Sobieski who proves a likable and believable traumatised teen trying to figure out just what the sinister behaviour of her guardians is all about.  The story isn’t all that much, and holds few genuine surprises, but with good support from Bruce Dern as the kids attorney, a good pace and decent direction … I couldn’t say I was bored.  The young actor playing the little brother was no more than a walking cliché and didn’t seem to go to school (he just played videogames and said ‘cool’ or ‘sweet’ a lot), but Skarsgård, one of those actors that has always been great at being shady, doesn’t disappoint.

For those looking for a fun, if tame evening’s entertainment with some good performances and a few nail biting moments… this is worth a look.  It does nothing particularly special but doesn’t do much wrong either.

Verdict:  3 /5