Plot: What’s it about?
Megan Gordon (Rainbow Harvest) is very shy and as such, she doesn’t always make friends quickly or easily. So now that she’s moved to a new town with her widowed mother Susan (Karen Black), she isn’t optimistic about having much of a social life. It doesn’t help that she has moved into a house rumored to be haunted, since it gives her even more of a fringe persona. But even she didn’t think the cliques in her new high school would be this cruel, as she is harassed from the start and finds herself to be the most unpopular quicker than she can even realize what has transpired. What was supposed to be a fresh start after her father’s death has turned into something even worse than her previous situation, not what she wanted to have happen. At least she likes her new room and the odd mirror that stands inside of it, even though she had to convince her mother to pay in order to keep it with the house. The mirror soon becomes very important to her too, as she learns that whatever she wishes for and then sees in the mirror, becomes reality. So when she has her mom’s date see worms in his food at dinner, it happens and by turn, he makes a hasty exit from the house. But when her thoughts become darker and involve pain & suffering, will she go through with them and will she discover the true source & intentions of the mirror’s powers?
This movie would spawn multiple sequels, but as with most cinematic series, none could match the original. And that’s not good news, since Mirror, Mirror isn’t that good to start with, so the sequels can only tumble even more downward. But if you just want a solid low rent horror picture, then Mirror, Mirror delivers on the basics. I mean, you have to know what you’re getting into when the movie is focused on an evil mirror, as if that premise could produce an award level thriller, no matter who is behind the production. The film isn’t a straight forward horror movie however, as it has a lot of inspiration from Heathers, via some scenes with high school bitches and of course, those who wish bad luck in their direction. It lacks the same acidic wit as that cult classic however, so we’re left with some decent moments there, then the rest of the film centers on the mirror itself and the chaos it brings into the world around it. But the movie manages to be better than it should be, with some nice tension, decent scare scenes, and ample use of the traditional horror elements. There isn’t an overload of blood and naked flesh, but you’ll see both ingredients here, so it never shies away from the horror staples. Not a genre classic, but for fans of low budget horror, Mirror, Mirror is solidly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Mirror, Mirror is presented in a full frame transfer. As this was shot on video, this is the intended presentation and given the low rent production involved, I think Anchor Bay has offered up an acceptable treatment. The print shows no serious flaws, but some minor nicks and scuffs can be seen from time to time. A little grain can also be seen in some of the darker scenes, but contrast is usually stark and more than solid. I have no complaints with the colors, as hues look bright enough and never fall into error. I know it has some flaws, but considering the material, I don’t think this movie could look much better on DVD.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround mix is more than solid, but don’t go overboard with your expectations here. The sound effects don’t need much room to stretch, so this track handles them without issue, but don’t expect the surrounds to pulse either. The main focus is the dialogue, which has a pleasant and clean sound, although not as crisp as I had expected. This is still an above average mix, but I had expected a little more, especially from the atmospheric presence.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
