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It is said that the most dangerous place you can be is in your own home - with '100 Feet' this idea is brought to life in devastating fashion. Famke Janssen is Marnie Watson - convicted of her abusive cop-husband's murder - now spending the rest of her sentence on house-arrest after time spent in prison.

Settling into a year's home detention, Marnie begins to re-adjust to life again - little knowing what terror awaits her in the days ahead. The film builds a very impressive atmosphere of house confinement - with dim lighting along eerie corridors and a basement - a more oppressive place you'd be hard-pressed to find. Even more weight to the proceedings is given with the electronic tag that Marnie wears, giving her just 100 feet (hence the title) from the sensor to move around her house at all times.

Just as she feels more at ease (as do we the viewers) then the film shows its core motivation with startling effect. Sometimes dead people just don't want to be dead and will let you know all about the fact! What follows is a wife's torment - carrying on from beyond the grave - with Janssen putting in a very convincing performance throughout the movie.

There is support with Bobby Cannavale as Shanks (Watson's husband's cop ex-partner) who doesn't quite believe that she killed her husband as an act of self-defence. He skulks around for awhile outside the house before even he begins to realise not is all it seems at the house.

Marnie soon befriends the younger Joey (Ed Westwick) who allows himself to be drawn into her house-bound world, little knowing of the nightmarish events that are ongoing in the abode. It isn't long till their newly-formed relationship is disrupted with shocking brutality.

The story is a simple idea that works mainly due to Janssen's strong portrayal of a woman not taking any more against impossible odds - her character can be somewhat uneven at times as she shifts between the role of strong heroine and victim - but generally it rings true most of the time. You may occasionally question the actions of Marnie, forgiving her in the same instance if you were subjected to the ordeal yourself.

Special effects are used to create a subtle sense of foreboding - they aren't overused and keep Janssen the centre of attention in the main. Like many films the action builds to a predictable climax - it might save its biggest tricks to the latter half of the movie - with a finale that might be a touch overblown given the earlier events in the film.

Written and directed by Eric Red - who wrote 'The Hitcher' and 'Near Dark' - '100 Feet' is a lively supernatural ride that keeps you interested. Dispensing of anything that could be deemed redundant to the actual story - not overlong or ever outstaying its welcome - '100 Feet' is a concise and slick production that goes the distance.

Learn more about this author, Wayne Reeves.
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