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Vanishing on 7th Street

Tapping into our most primal anxiety: fear of the dark
With Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo and Jacob Latimor
Directed by Brad Anderson

I would’ve expected more from Brad Anderson. The director of the overrated but effective “Session 9” (2001) and “The Machinist” (2004), Christian Bale’s most impressive vehicle since “American Psycho,” knows how to create a creepy mood and ratchet up the tension bit by bit. But the premise of his new film, “Vanishing on 7th Street,” doesn’t lend itself well to subtlety or sophistication: people ... more >

THE VANISHING ON 7TH STREET

A surefire spookfest

The Vanishing on 7th Street is a new horror film making the rounds of the festival circuit (starting with Toronto in September) from director Brad Anderson, whose resume includes the creepfests Session 9 (2001) and The Machinist (2004). Starring Hayden Christensen—when was the last time he headlined anything?—the film is like a mashup of the current post-apocalypse genre; think Danny Boyle’s 28 ... more >

Transsiberian

In case you missed it
Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer and Ben Kingsley
Directed by Brad Anderson

Notice how we waste perfectly good time sitting through overhyped, predictable, often gooey stuff—Little Miss Sunshine anyone?—and miss out real gems that come and go so quietly they might be on tiptoe? One such movie is the 2008 Transsiberian, an edge-of-your-seat taut thriller that channels Hitchcock like nobody’s business. Good from start to finish, even managing to avoid the usually absurd ... more >