Tired of watching “The Ring” or “28 Days Later“? Want a new kind of monstrous antagonist and a plot that looks more like “The Exorcist” and “Se7en” than “Cloverfield?” Don’t mind a few plodding plot holes or a little predictability? Then “Fallen” is probably right for you.
I must confess, one of the main reasons I was excited about this movie was the fact that Denzel Washington plays the lead. Not only is he beautiful, but most of his movies are very high-quality. In some respects, the movie followed through with its promises. Washington has a very good role, the film is scary and it has a relatively interesting plot and bad guy. Yet somehow, it goes a little awry, particularly with its predictable plot and a few lackluster characters.
The movie is set up well: a spiritually confused yet morally righteous homicide detective Hobbes, played by Washington, begins investigating a series of brutal homicides and mysterious clues that lead him back to a policeman’s suicide, years previously linked to legends of the demonic world. Eventually, most of the tide turns against him and thus begins a psychological and spiritual chase to defeat a supernatural force: the demon Azazel, who can travel between bodies through a simple touch. The only person that it cannot possess is Washington’s character. Complete with decent acting, beautiful cinematography and one of the scariest chase scenes ever, “Fallen” works as both a psychological and spiritual thriller, as well as a (relatively polite) social commentary on how one fights for what is right when all odds are stacked against him.
However, the film has serious flaws. For example, it was pretty easy to solve the mystery by about the halfway mark. Obviously, the cop’s suicide was more than it appears: why else would the film give it so much attention? Furthermore, the supporting character Gretta Milano, played by Embeth Davidtz, exists for an entirely informational purpose. However, she does get chased by the demon Azazel in, as mentioned previously, one of the most frightening chase scenes ever. As Davidtz’s character makes her way along a crowded street, she begins to realize she is being followed by the demon, who begins traveling rapidly towards her through a long line of people abruptly reaching and touching one another.
Despite these flaws, the movie is enjoyable, humorous and interesting to watch, and I was willing to forgive many of the plot’s flaws because of it. Most of the characters are very compelling. Plus, Washington is always a sight worth seeing: his acting (and his body) improve just about everything.
