Lost Your Faith? Don't Watch Alone. Movie Review: 6 Souls (Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers)

Movie Review: 6 Souls

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Directors: Måns Mårlind & Björn Stein

Writer: Michael Cooney

Cast: Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Frances Conroy, Jeffrey DeMunn, Nathan Corddry, Brooklynn Proulx

Studio: Radius-TWC, NALA Films

Run Time: 113 minutes

Release: VOD – March 1, 2013 and In theaters – April 5, 2013

Rated: R

Synopsis: A forensic psychiatrist must race against time to unravel a baffling case of multiple personalities in 6 Souls, a spellbinding supernatural thriller from the producers of The Ring and In The Valley of Elah.

Dr. Cara Jessup (Moore) investigates a mysterious patient, (Meyers) and uncovers a sinister decades-old mystery that endangers her life and the lives of everyone around her. Taut, intelligent and truly terrifying, 6 Souls is a fascinating puzzle that pushes the audience to the shadowy boundaries between science and the supernatural.

6 Souls is a film that makes you question your faith and beliefs—what is real and what isn’t. That question could drive anyone mad. Regardless of your religious views, this film is highly entertaining; it will leave you seeking comfort if you dared to watch it alone. But even if you view 6 Souls with company, you may be rushing to turn a few lights on. My advice, don’t watch this alone.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is frighteningly brilliant!

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is frighteningly brilliant! He plays multiple characters, but his supposed main persona is a man named Adam. Meyers embodies each character/personality fully, giving them their own sense of being. The various personalities are Adam, who is in-your-face creepy; Wes, who is absolutely scary; and poor David, who is just sad. But there is something odd about each personality; it’s as if they have their own unique memories and afflictions. David is wheelchair bound while Adam is color blind. The mystery begins to unfold when Cara realizes David is an actual person who died years ago. Is Adam possessed or unwittingly channeling the spirit of David? The plot thickens as Cara delves deep to prove she can help Adam resolve his multiple personalities only to discover there is much more to each personality than she could ever have imagined.

Cara takes David out into the woods to maybe jog his memory about the tragedy that befell him, only to meet Wes, an invasive personality.

Moore brings poise to her character, but also makes Cara realistic and vulnerable. After her husband is murdered, Cara and her young daughter, Samantha/Sammy (Brooklynn Proulx) are still reeling from the tragedy. Sammy has even lost her faith in God. Cara considers herself a “doctor of science but a woman of God,” but no matter how much she tries, Sammy continues to question the reasons why God took her father. This is a revolving factor throughout the film. Faith – having it and losing it. Both Cara’s father, also a psychologist, Dr. Harding (Jeffery DeMunn), and her brother Stephen (Nathan Corddry) have lost their faith as well, which plays a major role in their future well-being.

Cara’s father has a unique way of showing her Adam’s other personalities.

The underlying factor of a father/daughter relationship also plays significantly in how Cara pursues her methods. Cara’s father pushes the boundaries of the professional relationship, telling her next to nothing about the intimate details of Adam’s case, hoping it will prompt her to question things again instead of being complacent.

I must mention the character of Mrs. Bernburg (Frances Conroy), David’s mother. Of course, there is a possibility that Adam is a medium channeling spirits who have passed on. But, the true test comes when he mentions something to Mrs. Bernburg only David could know. Conroy is wonderful in this film. Her performance is so persuasive; you actually think she could have been this poor man’s mother. Her convictions are believable and her acting is superb.

Can Cara save her daughter?

The directors take you on an interesting and exhilarating journey with their style of filming. The slow panning during certain scenes builds a terrifying momentum only to release you without warning. Cooney weaves a tale so intricate and unpredictable at times, you find yourself questioning if the multiple personalities are paranormal—such as possession—or if Adam truly has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). I’ve longed for a horror/thriller film to do exactly what it’s meant to do – invoke fear and suspense. I found myself clutching my knees, covering my mouth and eyes, and cringing because I was genuinely scared. It’s the unknown and inexplicable things in life that terrify me the most. Seeing a scary monster will invoke a fleeting fear, but when a writer can instill fear with a mere suggestion or illusion, that’s what really frightens me. And I’ll say this, I hope I won’t ever have the need to meet the Granny Witch. Ever. She’s one scary old lady.

After viewing the trailer for 6 Souls, I was drawn in. I wanted to find out what happens; I needed to learn what was wrong with Adam. Cara goes in thinking Adam has only one other personality when, in reality, there are many more hidden facets to him. There is a scene when she takes David into the woods to hopefully jog his memory about the tragedy that befell him, only to meet Wes, an invasive personality. Even with this scene shot in broad daylight, I felt the dread emanating from David, which, again, is a testament to the sheer resplendence of Meyers’ acting abilities.

There are some shocking and unforeseen twists in this film, something that shouldn’t be spoiled in a review. If this film isn’t playing in your local theaters, consider renting it on Video On Demand. It’s well worth it. The surprise revelations, coupled with the unexpected ending, will surely make you happy you watched.

Watch the trailer: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/6souls/.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.