Fragile Review: Sometimes Less is More
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Fragile begins with typical ghost story clichés but builds intensity and atmosphere to lift itself out of the depths of ‘average’.
Written by Matt Molgaard
January 16, 2012
Release: September 28, 2010 (U.S. DVD)
Directed by: Jaume Balagueró
Written by: Jaume Balagueró and Jordi Galceran
Starring:
Calista Flockhart as Amy Nicholls
Richard Roxburgh as Robert Marcus
Elena Anaya as Helen Perez
Gemma Jones as Mrs. Folder
Yasmin Murphy as Maggie
Colin McFarlane as Roy
Ghost stories don’t typically rattle my nerves; the few that do boast remarkably detailed screenplays and uncannily ominous set pieces. Bleak atmosphere manifests itself when a filmmaker aligns the proper locale, and has ensured every t has been crossed and I dotted. In the case of Jaume Balagueró’s Fragile, the bases have been well covered, resulting in a moody visual treat that relies on palpable tension over intangible jump scares.
Don’t get me wrong, Fragile certainly features a few stunning sequences, but it’s the picture’s slow burn narrative that enables these few sequences to work quite effectively. Sometimes less is more, and Balagueró showcases a firm understanding of that rule. Ironically, it’s often the attempt at building tension that leaves your standard ghost story treading the fine line between creepy and boring. Jaume comes up big however, delivering a fine story that builds to an eerie culmination of physical and psychological terror.
What’s amazing about Fragile is not every
seemingly
obvious pitfall it stumbles into, but the ease with which it lifts
itself right back up from the depths. The premise of the film is little
more than one giant cliché: the halls of a children’s nursing home are
roamed nightly by a vengeful spirit. The staff is keeping mum in
regards to the buildings history; the children are seeing things
lurking in the depths of shadows. It sure doesn’t sound refreshing, but
scribes Balagueró and Jordi Galceran implant such an edge in the detail
that the suspense really lives strong in the picture. The build-up
unfolds with a sense of intensity not often rivaled these days, as
Balagueró sets up so many moments of impact, only to pull the plug and
leave the tension undulating in the air, that by the time the third act
arrives and the punches are no longer pulled viewers are completely
taken aback by the impact of the conclusion.
While technically Fragile is well shot, it’s not the
angles optimized by Balagueró so much as the film’s lighting that make
for such an aesthetically pleasing experience. Numerous scenes proffer
a look at what seems to be some John Carpenter influence, as we’re
treated to 
distance shots with low lighting
that works the slow passage
dim effect. It’s a technique mastered by Carpenter, but this crew here
does a fantastic job emulating the visual maneuver. The indoor set
pieces look great, and the outdoor shots are absolutely captivating;
one look as this menacing building will induce a shudder, while the
landscape shots will have you coveting the crew’s locale.
Despite all my praise, I did have a few qualms with Fragile. There’s a subplot that functions throughout the film, centering around our heroine Amy Nicholls (Calista Flockhart) that earns a wrap, but it’s loose one that leaves a few questions in the air. And, speaking of our heroine, she’s not a very likable woman; she carries herself with a reserved abrasiveness that seems to boiling just beneath the flesh, and like a large portion of the supporting cast, there’s a snotty element in her demeanor. It’s almost difficult to discern: is this Flockhart’s interpretation of the character, or is she just severely perturbed with herself for taking on the role?
With all said and done, I can certainly tell you that Fragile is the star of Fangoria’s recent string of “FrightFest” DVD releases. Unlike the majority of the other series entries, this one has some charm, some mesmerizing images and a villain that will not evade your memory with ease.
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