D-Tox

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Rating 1½


Directed by Jim Gillespie

Written by Ron L Brinkerhoff from the book by Howard Swindle

Starring Sylvester Stallone, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Patrick, Sean Patrick Flanery, Tom Berenger, Courtney B Vance and Dina Meyer


The comparison to ‘The Thing’ and the suggestion that this film (known as ‘Eye See You’ in America) should be thought of as ‘I Know What You Did Last Winter’ is actually a good indication of what to expect.

Apparently, Ron Howard was interested in directing it at one point, but he dropped out and was replaced by Jim Gillespie (‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’). It was filmed in 1999 and originally slated for release in December of that year, but Universal sat on it and then sold on the rights before it was finally released into cinemas in September 2002.

The film starts out as a cop thriller about a serial killer, but soon turns into a by-the-numbers retread of films like ‘Alien’ and ‘The Thing’, without the horror/sci-fi context. The isolated setting in the dead of winter could have been quite effective if it weren’t for some hazy directing and the frankly rather ludicrous conceit used to bring the various characters together.

The characters conform to tried and tested, but decidedly routine and stereotypical templates. There is altogether too much testosterone and macho pissing-matches for my tastes. It’s all very manly. Sylvester Stallone is in pretty good form, but Dina Meyer’s appearance is all too brief and she is wasted. The film becomes too flabby in it’s second half when the action really kicks in.



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