While She Was Out [Import]

"While She Was Out" tells the familiar story of an ordinary woman pushed to extraordinary lengths to survive an ordeal no one suspects she will live through. An improbable thriller, "Out" presents Kim Basinger as a put-upon housewife who encounters a murderous group of meanies on Christmas Eve. Basinger starts out as such a dishrag to her abusive husband, we hope to see her emerge a strong and resilient heroine as she is isolated and pursued throughout the night. One by one, she confronts her attackers and succeeds! The theme of female empowerment through murder isn't a new idea--but one that has a certain appeal. However, "While She Was Out" doesn't employ the device particularly well. No real intelligence or creativity is employed by Basinger--she's more lucky than good. And that's unfortunate, because this might have been a nifty little thriller.

The one thing I was certain of throughout the film was that we were preparing for a knock-out ending. As Basinger took the reins of her own life on this fateful night--how might this change her home life? The earlier scenes are played so over-the-top, the exciting and liberating set-up can be seen a mile away. However, the resolution is so tired, so expected, and so thoroughly underwhelming--it truly removed the last bit of goodwill I had for this picture.

The saddest thing of all about "While She Was Out" is how much I wanted to like it. The image of Basinger clutching a red toolbox on the DVD cover is priceless. The description, as well, is mint--they should have paid the copywriter big! It sure sounds like a sure fire guilty pleasure! Add Guillermo del Toro of the impeccable "Pan's Labyrinth" as a producer, and that just raises expectations even more. But the film really lacks sensibility and surprise (I loved the ridiculous images of Christmas Eve at the mall where women were busy buying sexy lingerie and getting their hair done minutes before the bustling building becomes a ghost town). On several occasions, I recalled Basinger in an equally ludicrous thriller "Cellular." But that film works despite its shortcomings due to characters to root for--and if that Kim Basinger were in this film, maybe things would have turned out differently. KGHarris, 04/09.

"While She Was Out" tells the familiar story of an ordinary woman pushed to extraordinary lengths to survive an ordeal no one suspects she will live through. An improbable thriller, "Out" presents Kim Basinger as a put-upon housewife who encounters a murderous group of meanies on Christmas Eve. Basinger starts out as such a dishrag to her abusive husband, we hope to see her emerge a strong and resilient heroine as she is isolated and pursued throughout the night. One by one, she confronts her attackers and succeeds! The theme of female empowerment through murder isn't a new idea--but one that has a certain appeal. However, "While She Was Out" doesn't employ the device particularly well. No real intelligence or creativity is employed by Basinger--she's more lucky than good. And that's unfortunate, because this might have been a nifty little thriller.

The one thing I was certain of throughout the film was that we were preparing for a knock-out ending. As Basinger took the reins of her own life on this fateful night--how might this change her home life? The earlier scenes are played so over-the-top, the exciting and liberating set-up can be seen a mile away. However, the resolution is so tired, so expected, and so thoroughly underwhelming--it truly removed the last bit of goodwill I had for this picture.

The saddest thing of all about "While She Was Out" is how much I wanted to like it. The image of Basinger clutching a red toolbox on the DVD cover is priceless. The description, as well, is mint--they should have paid the copywriter big! It sure sounds like a sure fire guilty pleasure! Add Guillermo del Toro of the impeccable "Pan's Labyrinth" as a producer, and that just raises expectations even more. But the film really lacks sensibility and surprise (I loved the ridiculous images of Christmas Eve at the mall where women were busy buying sexy lingerie and getting their hair done minutes before the bustling building becomes a ghost town). On several occasions, I recalled Basinger in an equally ludicrous thriller "Cellular." But that film works despite its shortcomings due to characters to root for--and if that Kim Basinger were in this film, maybe things would have turned out differently. KGHarris, 04/09.

While She Was Out is a movie about how necessity can provide one with strength. Della (Kim Basinger) is a normal mom with two kids. She is on the timid side in her marriage, with a husband that is abusive and controlling. When Della goes for some last minute Christmas shopping, she ends up getting four thugs mad at her. From there, a stressful game of cat and mouse begins that will keep you nervous for the rest of the film.

As you can image, for a woman to be chased down by four young guys that are determined to harm her would be frightening enough for anyone. But the odds do not deter Della who just wants to get home and be with her kids. It becomes a battle between self-preservation and hunters on the chase.

Once the thugs begin to chase Della, she aggravates us a little because she seems to be trying to get away at a snail's pace but this only makes it more suspenseful. After evading the thugs from the mall, she ends up crashing her vehicle in a new home development surrounded by dense woods, escaping only with a toolbox. Of course the thugs don't give up easy and chase her. Although Della looks a little silly running away carrying this little red toolbox there is nothing funny in the way she uses it to defend herself. Although Della is mostly timid, once she is aggravated the banshee in her comes out.

While She Was Out is good film to watch if you want to raise your blood pressure, as good thrillers are supposed to do. The movie shows us just how true the expression "there is nothing more vicious than a mother that wants to defend her kids" really is. If you like thrillers or are a fan of Kim Basinger, it might be worth checking this one out.