If you imagine a strange concoction combining elements of Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense you will well on your way towards understanding what Stephen Sommers’ Odd Thomas is about. Based on the novel by Dean R. Koontz, who co-wrote the screenplay with the director, this is a film that constantly plays with your expectations and expertly teases you with well woven twists and turns that will leave you wondering on the true nature of the film until the very end.
Odd Thomas (Anton Yelchin) is as curious a character as his name suggests. Born with the ability to see dead people, and for that matter potentially dead ones too, Odd hides his clairvoyant abilities from all but his girlfriend Stormy (Addison Timlin) and his police chief father (Willem Defoe). When he begins to see signs that seem to indicate something really, really bad is about to happen he quickly realises only he can protect his beloved small town from the evil about to be unleashed.
If you have a story as strangely and wonderfully preposterous as Odd Thomas it is essential that the cast deliver performances full of sincerity and quality and without fail that is the case here. Yelchin, fresh from blockbuster appearances as Chekov in the Star Trek reboot, is outstanding as a young man with more than his fair share of supernatural issues. His intense yet unavoidably likeable and charming performance is central to the film’s success and really establishes the young actor as leading man material. The remaining cast are comfortable in their roles providing a natural, effortless feeling to the film that draws the audience in to this mixed up little town.
It is interesting that Sommers has chosen such a relatively low key, character driven film to direct and hints at a real passion for the original text. With a filmography full of big budget, fantasy actioners including The Mummy, G.I.Joe and Van Helsing, Odd Thomas demonstrates a deft of touch rarely before seen in Sommers’ films and demonstrates a real understanding of character and emotion that is refreshing in today’s cinema. There is unquestionable sentimentality in the heart of Odd Thomas but at moments when this threatens to become overwhelming Sommers delivers a poignancy that will resonate with any audience.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Odd Thomas is a rare and refreshing film on many levels. There is a classical sensibility founded in character relationships and story that despite being a target of many modern films, is lost amidst the banality and shallowness inherent in more insincere productions. This is an enjoyable film that will surprise and entertain and clearly emphasises its director and establishes its star as leading lights.
