Some movies don’t need to be “reviewed.” Take, as an example, the countless Hallmark movies my wife watches during the Christmas season. No one reviews those cookie-cutter movies. That would be silly, wouldn’t it? Swing the pendulum to the opposite extreme, and you have Shattered. This erotic thriller is just as ridiculous and cliché as any of my wife’s made-for-TV Christmas movies, but in place of the couple falling in love, many people are murdered. The bottom line is: Shattered probably doesn’t need to be reviewed, but here we are – no pulled punches.
Chris Decker (Cameron Monaghan) is young and rich from the internet security software he created. His marital problems have left him alone in his secluded, deluxe home in the mountains. On a trip to the grocery store, he meets a beautiful young woman – Sky (Lilly Krug). There is an immediate chemistry between the two – at least the movie wants us to think that. This is the “erotic” portion of the film.
One night, after a romantic date with Sky, Chris is randomly attacked in an alley. His leg is severely damaged, and now he is bound to a wheelchair. Sky offers to take care of him as he heals, but she secretly has something more sinister in mind. This is the “thrilling” portion of the film.
Shattered is standard fare for January releases. It is a low-budget, quick attempt at a cash grab. I’ll admit, I often like these simple, standalone films. They don’t require as much brain power as the award-contending films I just experienced in November and December. They don’t ask for the investment of time that multiple superhero movies demand. They’re just 90 minutes of mindless entertainment. This formula has been perfected by a studio like Blumhouse. That studio has found success with hits like Get Out, The Purge, and The Invisible Man. Alas, Shattered is not from Blumhouse, and it is not of the same ilk. It offers nothing original. Every moment of this film is predictable – even to the least aware member of the audience. There are zero surprises, hence zero thrills.
How did this movie attract talent like John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, In the Line of Fire) and Frank Grillo (Zero Dark Thirty, The Grey)? I have to imagine the majority of the budget went to them. For their sakes and ours, I wish that money was used to develop an original concept, or put in a savings account to build interest.
I understand this production had limitations due to COVID and budget, and unfortunately, every one of those impediments is felt on screen. This made my experience with Shattered feel like a waste of time, and I really doubt it will attract any audience.
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