Fallen
Who wants to play touch football with some demon spirits?

There's a reason this guy keeps the blinds closed: Elias Koteas in Fallen.

I always thought that Fallen was a ghost-of-dead-serial-killer-comes-back-to-haunt-the-cop-that-put-him-away kind of movie. Nothing profound. Just simple spook and revenge horror kinda stuff. Who knew it would be so complicated, so religious and, well... borderline pretentious? Fallen is one of those movies that has a number of great ideas that unfortunately, end up fizzling out in their execution. Gregory Hoblit directs Nicholas Kazan's sometimes clever, but more often contrived script. Both benefit hugely from the presence of Denzel Washington, whose charisma tries to carry the picture over plot inconsistencies and very... slow... pacing.

The story begins with narration by a straight-arrow detective named John Hobbes (Denzel Washington). Let me tell you a story about the day I almost died...", he says, and we are brought to the execution of serial killer John Reese (played with great aplomb by Elias Koteas), whom Hobbes had personally captured years ago. In between ritual whisperings in Aramaic and singing The Rolling Stones' "Time is on My Side" at the top of his lungs, Reese taunts Hobbes with a promise that "what goes around... really goes around." In other words, that he'd be back somehow to resume his killing spree. When Reese finally bites it, the camera (with its yellow tinted POV) swoops high above his head and straight into the eyes of his new host -- an unsuspecting prison guard. As you may have seen for yourself in the movie trailers, Reese is able to pass his soul from one person to the next, simply by touch.

"Shhh -- keep quiet or they'll hear us walking out of the theater!"

Sure enough, a few days later, someone begins committing a string of fresh new crimes that copycat Reese's style. Here begins a web of clues and riddles that point Hobbes and his fellow detectives towards a similar case 20 years before, in which a police officer had committed suicide. This further leads him towards the officer's daughter Gretta (Embeth Davidtz), now a theology professor. Up to this point, Fallen plays like a gritty, detective film noir -- from corrupt cops and damp sets, all the way down to these existential voice-overs by Det. Hobbes, which I was not sure what exactly to make of. But when Gretta comes in, the film becomes takes quite a turn.

She has her own explanation regarding Reese -- that he was actually possessed by a demon named Azazel, who moves from body to body in search of prey. This immortal, supernatural killer has a vendetta against Hobbes (though it's not explained why this demon has it in for Denzel) and will go to many lengths to bring him down. Hobbes experiences this for himself when he witnesses Azazel pass from one person to the next on a busy city street, each pedestrian threatening him, or giving him the evil eye. This is easily the most eerie and successful scene in the entire film.

Fallen's saving grace: the ever-droolworthy Denzel Washington.

The main problem is the foundation behind this demon. Basically, we are told that if you are sadistic, left-handed and like to sing, than it is more than likely that your soul has been taken over by this fallen angel, Azazel. Sound ridiculous? Whether it is or not, try as I might, I just couldn't buy it. Later, Gretta warns Hobbes that the Forces of Evil are always hidden. To make her point, she spouts forth a line that is unintentionally amusing: "We're not supposed to know! It's like the Mafia. They don't exist!" Suddenly, I felt compelled to scream out, "Hobbes, open your eyes and take a look at your own precinct! You've got both Tony and Janice Soprano on your freakin' police force!" (James Gandolfini and Aida Tuturro have minor roles as cops). At this point, I knew the film had lost my interest.

Fallen concludes with a twist ending, which by no means makes the film, like it does for say, The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects, but it does add an extra layer to it; even if it's a rather bleak, audience-unfriendly layer. If anything, it certainly makes more sense of Hobbes' pseudo-deep, Chris Carteresque voice-overs. In fact, Fallen is probably a better film after a second viewing , but personally, I am not going to make that effort just to find its hidden merits.

There is only one definitive thing Fallen accomplishes with flying colours. It will permanently ingrain the chorus, "Tiiiiiiime... is on my side/Yes it is!" into your brain for the rest of your living life. You will be singing this song day in and out from when you wake up, to when you finish breakfast. It will override any overplayed pop song on the radio on your way to work. In my case, this isn't a bad thing. I'll take the Stones over Britney Spears any day, thank you very much. But hey, you know what? I also happen to be left-handed...

DROOL FACTOR: Gimme a "DEN!"... gimme a "ZEL!" Whatzat spell?! DENZEL! Now, before you can berate me over what grammar school I went to, just look at this man. Lost your ability to spell too? For those who like some brains to go with the beauty, I can think of no finer actor than Mr. Washington. Too bad his wits in this film is what gets him into a whole lot of trouble.

GROSS-OUT FACTOR: There are a few cringe-worthy moments; notably the demise of Reese (Elias Koteas) in a gas chamber, and the corpses of murder victims (inflicted by gunshots and syringes).

STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Nil. Embeth Davidtz is a true specimen. Who else can boast being the lead actress in both Spielberg's masterwork, Schindler's List and Raimi's cult favourite, Army of Darkness ("I may be bad... but I feel... gooooood)? Alas, no such legacy will come from Fallen. Her character is awfully bland. Her only responsibility is to provide Denzel with eerie Biblical references (that he has pretty much figured out on his own already), then later, like all good female species, to be a surrogate mom for his nephew. But is it Embeth's fault that she's about as useful as a bag of sand to Denzel's investigation and subsequently, his safety? Nah. I blame the script.

-- Julie Ng

Fallen is currently available on video and DVD.

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