A very cool Sci-fi story with a novel plot entertains a wide range of audiences from suspense to thriller. Nicely directed and acted, the movie tests your imagination with in the “what if” fantasy I Still See You. Just let yourself go as this futuristic nightmare offers up a stirring look at life after a defenseless event.
As a young girl Roni Calder witnesses a bright shock wave as it reaches her town from a blast that takes out Chicago where her father works. Ten years later teenage Roni Calder (Bella Thorne) is in her high school science class where the subject is spectral remnants (Rems) or the ghosts from the result of the blast at ground zero. Here teacher Mr. Bittner (Dermot Mulroney) is going over the reading assignment and asks for the three laws of identifying and living with the Rems.
As the students are chosen by Bittner they give the answers; a boy says they are not sentient, meaning unemotional and not conscious thinking beings. They’re projections from the past and appear as holograms. McNulty, Roni’s best friend, continues with law number two telling the class that they can’t alter its imagery once a Rem appears and it does the same thing each time in what they call loops. The loop may last 5 seconds or 5 minutes. They never vary and always repeat.
Next up is Roni who explains that law three states that the Rems cannot affect the actual worlds and the remnant phenomenon may be very diverse. They may be playing out moments of their former life and even their own death. But, no matter what they can’t think, change or touch a living being. Mr. Bittner gives them an assignment to write a research paper with a partner based on the subject of Remnants.
Roni teams up with Kirk Lane (Richard Harmon), a “Truther” who believes that there’s more to what Rems can do than the government tells everyone. When Roni gets visited by a Rem in her bathroom, she goes to Mr. Bittner for advice. But, Bittner balks at her comments and tells her to research the incident more. Thus begins an illegal conspiracy with Roni and Kirk trying to get to the bottom of why the Rems are changing their patterns and becoming a danger that could bring harm to their small town.
The presentation of the storyline is good and the premise expands as the film gets played out by the very good actors. It’s a fun film if you like fantasy and Sci-fi, but even more so for those that like suspense and can use their imagination to create realism. Bella Thorne does carry the film however, as her character gets attacked and the other support roles chime in to help investigate why. Richard Harmon does a good job keeping Roni on track until they realize that there’s something strange about their science teacher.
BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
“Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Scott Speer”
“Remnants: Manifesting I Still See You “Featurette”
“Break My Heart 1,000 Times: Novel to Screen Featurette”
“Audio Commentary with Director Scott Speer and Actress Bella Thorne”
I Still See You has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some violence, terror, partial nudity, and thematic material so be careful when viewing the film around immature youngsters.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A cool little fantasy film with a very good build up. (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Starring: Bella Thorne, Richard Harmon, Dermot Mulroney
Directed by: Scott Speer
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller
Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence, terror, partial nudity, and thematic material
Original Theatrical Release: October 12, 2018
Video Release Date: December 11, 2018
Language: English (changeable for Spanish viewers)
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: DTS-HD 5.1
Video: 1080p Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Released Formats: Blu-ray, Digital HD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
