Through the Looking Glass (2006) - full transcript

The Artist lives alone in a foreboding old house in the country. Once prolific he is now a desperate man at odds with his work and unable to paint. When he discovers a mysterious package left on his doorstep The Artist finds a strange mirror within and soon becomes wracked by horrific visions. Beguiled by the mirror his work becomes fuelled by the visions as he paints like never before. However disturbing things soon begin to happen to him and those who enter the house. Escalating with each vision, with each brush stroke the mirror's grip on The Artist tightens. Can The Artists untangle himself from the mirror's creeping influence before it is too late? "A terrifying horror, an atmospheric shocker" - Festival Director SBFF 2007, winner of Best Horror.

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[Rain]

[distant thunder]

♪ low tonal music ♪

♪♪

[low whispers]

[Demonic screams]

[Thunder]

♪ A low tone ♪

[motor shuts off]

[car door shuts]

Finally the traveller rests his weary head.



[both laugh]

How are you?

Yeah I’m good

I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show up today.

I’ve been stuck in traffic.

Well your here now.

Come on I’ll show you your room.

It must be strange leaving the city after all these years?

Yeah it is.

But I’d really had enough in the end.

Still this place hasn’t changed much.

Yeah the quite country life. Just how I like it.

Have you decided what you’re going to do yet?

I’m going to write a book.



A novelist eh?

Something I’ve always wanted to do.

God, I’d forgot just how big this place is.

Heh. I like my space.

So this’ll be your room.

Right.

Oh, it’s big.

This used to be my room but now I sleep up in the studio.

Oh, this is going to be perfect.

Like I said you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.

Look I really appreciate this.

Thank you.

You’re a mate.

Besides with the amount of paintings I’ve been selling recently

it won't be long and you might have to return the favour. - [laughs]

I’ll leave you to it.

See you later.

[wind through leaves]

♪ piano music ♪

From a solicitor to a novelist.

You like a career where you’ve got to be good at making up stories.

Well that’s why you always ended up in detention and I got away with it.

No I ended up in detention because I didn’t like their rules.

I just like to do things my own way.

You always were a stubborn bastard, Ray.

Even that art teacher told you that remember?

That’s why he got paint all over his car.

Ah, yeah.

I hated school.

That’s because you were never there.

Too busy painting even then.

It just seemed to get in the way of what I really wanted to do.

Naw, it wasn’t like that for me.

So I didn’t go.

I didn’t need to. I learnt all I needed to know from the canvass.

[chuckles]

Have another drink.

No, no, no...

Go on.

It’s not as if you’ve a wife to go home to anymore is it?

I’m sorry.

Yeah, it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.

Yeah go on then.

Why not?

To new beginnings.

♪ piano music ends ♪

[birds chirping]

Morning.

It’s beautiful here.

I should have done this a long time ago.

So what have you got planned for today?

I’m going to try to start a new painting before my agent arrives.

To be honest it’s a bit difficult.

I can’t seem to get any good ideas.

I’m sure it won’t last long mate.

Try telling that to my agent.

I’ll take this one...

...but that’s all.

I’m running a gallery not a charity.

This really isn’t good enough.

I need paintings I can sell.

My paintings do sell.

I’ve made you a lot of money.

Yes you have...

...but that was six months ago.

Look you’re not the first person to get stuck in a rut.

What you need is a change of scenery.

Get away from this place for a while.

What about some classes?

Something fresh to get you going again.

I’ll book you a life model then?

Right I’ll be back in a week or so and I really need to see

something in my gallery that I can sell this time.

Ok?

Get this one sent up as usual.

♪ low ominous music ♪

[keyboard strokes]

♪ low ominous music builds ♪

[music ends]

Ah good you made it.

Just about.

Should we get started?

Why not?

So tell me about yourself?

What do you want to know?

I don’t know. Why modelling?

A possessive ex-fiancè actually.

Ah hell hath no fury.

You know the type...

...tell you they love you until they’ve got a ring on your

finger and then suddenly you’re their property.

So you became a life model to get your own back?

Yeah I did actually. Every Wednesday I told him I was going to the gym...

...but actually I was taking my clothes off for money.

Trouble was he followed me one night.

And so you left him?

Not before he showed me how much he loved me by giving me a black eye.

You know I never talk about myself at work.

I like to get to know the people I’m drawing.

Gives the picture a life of it’s own.

Interesting.

[Car Beeps]

That’s my car.

Ok. Same time Tuesday?

It’ll cost you.

I’ll see you Tuesday.

Ok.

[A Bell Tolls]

♪ low ominous music ♪

Ah cheers.

You know this is incredible.

You don’t see anything like this in the city.

I can’t believe there’s so much out there.

It makes you realize how small we really are.

We don’t know the half of it.

Tell me about your ex-wife?

I was too busy chasing money.

That’s all there is to it.

I suppose I just didn’t have very much time for her.

What about you?

Not been tempted down the isle?

No.

Not exactly the marrying kind.

[laughs]

Don’t you hate being alone though?

Sometimes.

You get use to it.

But what keeps you here alone?

I don’t know.

What keeps anybody alone?

I grew up on my own and...

All I ever cared about was my paintings.

What else is there?

Family.

Friends.

Everyday life.

No, I don’t need any of that thanks.

Anyway what’s all this about?

You’re not thinking about putting me in your book are you?

How’s that going anyway?

Um...good I think.

I wrote a few pages.

You’ll have to let me have a look.

uh, maybe tomorrow.

♪ low ominous tone ♪

[tone abruptly ends]

[lamp switches off]

[Ticking Clock]

[Ticking gets louder]

[Ticking gets louder] [spooky whispers]

[Ticking Slows Down]

[Ticking Stops]

♪ low ominous tone ♪

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

♪ low ominous tone ♪

[strong wind]

[bird calls out]

[typing]

[approaching footsteps] [keyboard strokes]

[typing]

Listen did you knock on my door last night about 4 in the morning?

No I was asleep by midnight.

What? Why would I knock on your door at 4 in the morning?

Must have been a nightmare.

First sign of madness that...bad dreams.

[typing]

[unusual tapping] [typing]

♪ low ominous tone ♪

[typing]

[Thump from upstairs]

♪ low piano music ♪

♪ piano music is louder ♪

Oh hiya. Sorry.

Drink?

No.

(ruffling through papers)

Come on we’re going out.

I can’t.

I’ve got to start a new painting.

I haven’t painted a decent picture in months.

It’s driving me mad.

If you ask me you’ve been up here too long.

You need to take a break from it.

Come down the pub, we’ll have a pint.

I can’t I’ve got too much work to do.

Suit yourself.

It’s only for a couple of days.

Just until I get this new painting started.

It’s fine I’ll leave you to.

[Scary sounds, almost like monster growls]

[gibberish over radio]

DEEP VOICE: You are one of us.

[Bell Tolls]

[ticking clock]

[Reading] "The indigenous tribes people of the western"

"region worshipped the pagan god Carnus."

"Who was the god of reflection."

"Folklore spoke of seeing ones image in a reflective surface"

"or pool as a gateway to the divine."

"Not merely a reflection"

"but rather the true soul staring back."

"Others thought it dangerous to look into a dark pool"

"less the spirit that dwells within would steal away the soul."

"Indeed it is said that if one"

"looked into a pool long enough at night"

"The devil would appear."

[Screams]

[indistinguishable chanting]

[low whispers]

[loud crashes]

[Scary whispers mixed with loud scratches]

[hits canvas]

[heavy breathing]

[controlled breathing]

[bird calls]

[Bell tolls]

[Typing] ♪ low ominous tone ♪

[Electrical Buzz]

[glass break]

[sets down brush]

[Electrical Buzz]

[long sigh]

Come on.

[buzz]

♪ scary music ♪

[paint dripping] ♪ scary music ♪

♪ scary music ♪

[dramatic scratches] ♪ scary music ♪

[Phone Rings]

[Phone Rings]

Hello?

[indistinguishable whispers] [busy signal on phone]

Who is this?

[indistinguishable whispers] [busy signal on phone]

[monster growl]

[indistinguishable whispers] [busy signal on phone]

[slams phone down]

[Switch Flicked]

[buzz]

[strong winds outside] [typing]

[typing]

Shit!

Oh God!

You nearly gave me a heart attack.

Have you been having any trouble

with the electrics down here?

What? -The Electrics.

Have you had any trouble with them?

No not really.

What about noises?

Strange sounds?

Have you heard anything?

No why?

Nothing.

[fading footsteps] [strong winds outside]

♪ low ominous music ♪

♪ low ominous music ♪

[fast quick brush strokes] ♪ music grows louder ♪

♪ music goes lower ♪

♪ music fades ♪

Hi.

You’ll need to go upstairs to the studio

but he wants you to wait until he’s ready.

Well how long will that be? -Oh.

I -- I don’t know.

He’s in a world of his own at the moment.

Ok. How about a cup of tea then?

Sure sorry.

The kitchen’s this way.

Thanks.

Nice tea

Reminds me of New York.

Oh really that sounds cool.

What were you doing there?

Working.

How long were you there for?

A couple of years.

Actually I came back about six months ago.

For business reason, well no and personal reasons.

Well and business.

Well you know what they say you should never mix business with pleasure.

Funny how life can change so quickly though.

Yeah I know what you mean.

[brush strokes]

I mean this time last year I was...

...living it up in a penthouse.

This time last year I was married...

...with a mortgage up to the eyeballs and a lifestyle so stressful

I was going to have a heart attack.

It’s funny you don’t the marrying kind.

Well I’m not am I?

Otherwise I’d still be married.

Did you love her?

Yeah of course.

In fact I had a bit of a funny spell, you know afterwards.

I don’t I just couldn’t figure out what it

was all about for a while.

We weren’t very well suited.

Mind being a man I as in denial about it.

Well that’s what my doctor said.

So I left the city and I came down here to get a...

...to get a new start.

[Door Opens]

Ready?

Thanks for the tea.

Yeah see you again sometime.

Who knows?

[footsteps fade away]

♪ piano music ♪

Wish I could paint.

I love art.

When I was a kid we used to have this...

...picture of a crying boy.

Hanging above the fireplace in the living room.

I loved that painting.

The boy looked so sad you know?

I used to sit and look at it for hours.

[approaching footsteps]

MODEL: I was hopeless at art at school.

MODEL: Languages were my thing.

MODEL: I used to be able to speak...

Um, French, German, bit of Greek.

And Latin.

[brush strokes]

My dad was a banker you know...

Lived his whole life in the same job.

No ambition to do anything else, no...

[clears throat] need to travel the world or meet new people.

Doubt my parents have never done one single exciting thing in their entire lives.

They just sit there in their...

...semi detached...

...middle class complacently, sipping their tea.

Listening to the world service.

[voice like at a distance] I kind of envy them that really you know...

...being so content with your life

that you don’t need anything else.

[slams down brush]

It’s not right.

What’s wrong?

You better go. Your money is on the table.

Maybe we could take a break.

You know, try again later?

Is this what you want?

[low tone]

[whispers in Spanish] te voy a matar.

[whispers in Spanish] te odio. Te voy a matar.

[whispers in Spanish] te voy a matar!

[whispers in Spanish] te estoy viendo.

[Screams]

[indistinguishable whispers]

Go on then, be a big man.

[she falls to the ground]

Please.

Just go.

♪ low strange music ♪

[build up of scratching]

[slams shut]

♪ building high tone ♪

[indistinguishable whispers]

♪ tone rapidly increases ♪

[monstrous scream]

♪ low tonal music ♪

♪ music builds ♪

I’m really sorry, I didn’t...

[dramatic percussion beat]

♪ strange music ♪

♪ dramatic music beat ♪

[fire crackles]

♪ tonal music builds ♪

What are you burning?

Uh.

Just some rubbish.

She’s gone then?

Yeah.

She’s gone.

Any good? Get what you want?

No...um...

Not really.

Shame.

She was nice.

She won’t be coming back then?

No. I don’t think she’ll be back.

Listen I’ve um...

I’ve got to get on. A bit busy.

Yeah, sure.

♪ low tonal music builds ♪

[water drops]

[drips quicker]

[SCREAMS]

[rapid breathing]

[footsteps]

[footsteps receding]

[distance laughter]

[wind]

[door's locked]

♪ music builds ♪

[door rattles]

So...How do you like the book?

I don’t know you’ll have to let me read it sometime.

What’s it about?

Nothing much.

Really?

I look forward to reading it then.

[Thump]

[Footsteps]

[tries light switch]

[tries light switch again]

♪ low music ♪

[nervous breathing]

♪ low music ♪

[indistinguishable whispers]

[Screech]

♪ loud unusual music ♪ [whispers]

♪ deep base music ♪ [heavy breathing]

♪ deep base music ♪ [whispers]

[Screech]

[heavy breathing]

[Whispers] ♪ low tone builds ♪

[Scratching at Door]

[BANG AGAINST THE DOOR]

[Heavy breathing] [REPEATED LOUD BANG] [Door Rattling]

[heaving breathing] ♪ creepy music ♪

[breathing and music fades]

♪ low creepy music ♪

♪ creepy music builds ♪

♪ dramatic music beat ♪

♪ low creepy music ♪

♪ low creepy music ♪

[Shower Running]

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low scary music combines with pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ low pulse sound ♪

♪ creepy strings ♪

[SCREAMS]

[rapid breathing] ♪ creepy strings ♪

[REPEATED BANGING]

No leave me alone.

Leave me alone.

[BANGING CONTINUES]

Nooooooooooo.

[BANGING CONTINUES]

Stooooop!!

[Crying] Leave me alone.

Go away, go away, go away...

[Phone Rings]

[Phone Rings]

[Phone Rings]

[Phone Rings]

[Phone Rings]

[Voice on Phone] Hello? Anybody there?

Yes. -[Agent] Oh so you’re still alive then?

[Agent] Where the hell have you been? I've been ringing you for days.

[Agent] And where’s the painting you were supposed to have sent me?

I forgot. -[Agent] What do you mean you forgot?

[Agent] Look if you don’t send them to me I can’t sell them

[Agent] and that makes me being your agent rather pointless.

[Agent] All right that’s it I’m coming up there tomorrow

[Agent] and there better be something I can sell this time.

I’ll be ready.

[Breathing]

[strange quiet noises]

♪ low ominous tone ♪ [strange quiet noises]

♪ ominous tone grows louder ♪ [strange noises grow louder]

♪ ominous tone grows louder ♪ [strange noises grow louder]

[silence]

[Screeech]

[rapid heavy breathing]

♪ building low tone ♪ [rapid heavy breathing]

[indistinguishable whispers] [screeches]

[Spanish whisper] Te voy a matar. Te odio.

[indistinguishable whispers] ♪ building scary tone ♪

[Screams] ♪ building scary tone ♪

[ominous laughter] ♪ building scary tone ♪

♪ low tone fades ♪

[footsteps fade]

[Knocking]

You were supposed to have a new batch of

paintings ready for me, remember?

[scoffs]

Is this some sort of joke?

I can never sell this.

You drag me all the way up here for this?

Why don’t you paint something that people will want to buy for a change?

Something a little more accessible?

More commercial you mean? -It's not a dirty word.

We all have to make a living.

Even the great had to compromise a little.

I’m not going to corrupt my art so that you can make more money.

I’m an artist.

[Door Slam]

Your high and mighty principles aren’t going to keep you fed.

They’re not going to keep a roof over your head.

It’s a simple as this-

I’ve had enough of you and your six form art school pretensions.

You were a gamble...

...but you’ve turned out to be nothing but a liability.

Worse than that. an expensive liability.

In the last six months you’ve only sold two painitngs.

That’s all!

It doesn’t even cover the amount it costs me to hang them.

Look...

Now that I am here I might as well take a look at your new batch

so at least this hasn’t been a complete waste of my time.

They’re in the cellar.

If there’s something there, fine.

But if there’s nothing I can sell there--

I don’t see the point of me continuing to represent you.

I’m sorry but you’re not exactly helping yourself.

If you ask me you’ve been locked up in this place too long.

[footsteps fade away]

[Dripping Water]

♪ ominous music ♪

Good grief.

[Scrape]

♪ ominous music ♪

[loud scrape]

[footsteps] ♪ musical sting ♪

Hello?

[low whispers]

Is it you?

[low whispers]

[low whispers]

♪ dramatic musical build up ♪

[low whispers] ♪ dramatic musical build up ♪

[rattles locked door]

Let me out! [bangs on door]

Let me out! [bangs on door]

Let me out! [bangs on door]

[indistinguishable whispers grow loud] [bangs on door]

♪ strange ominous music ♪

[Bang on Door]

[low whispers]

[Bang]

[repeated banging on door]

[low whispers] [repeated banging on door]

[Scream]

[Knocking]

What do you want?

Are you ok?

I’m fine. Why?

[Chortles] You never leave your studio.

When I do see you you don’t make much sense.

You turn up at the weirdest times looking like you’ve seen a ghost.

I’m fine.

Yeah, well look-

♪ ominous music ♪

♪♪

[scraping hair off with razor]

♪ ominous music ♪

♪ ominous music ♪

♪ ominous music ♪

♪ ominous music ♪

♪ ominous music grows louder ♪

♪ ominous music fades ♪

[footsteps on gravel]

What do you think?

I think maybe you should see someone.

Someone that’s going to help you.

What makes you think I need help?

Have you seen the state that you’re in?

You just don’t understand.

Nothing is important.

Just my work.

It’s making you ill.

It's driving you insane.

Where have you gone?

I don’t know.

Please get some help?

I don’t need help.

I need release.

You see...

I’ve looked into the face of God

and seen my face reflected there.

We all seek redemption in the face of the divine.

Anything to get us through our sordid little lives.

What’s your reflection?

[bottle smashes on head]

[choking sound]

It’s ok.

[choking sound]

[choking sound]

[kiss]

[silence]

[distant bang]

[sound of distant fall]

[SCREAM]

[GLASS BREAKS]

[heavy breathing]

[SCREAM]

[low breathing]

[sniffs]

[crying] Wake up?

[crying]

Wake up!

[sobs]

[crying] Please?

[crying] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

[heavy breathing] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

♪ ominous music builds ♪

[heavy breathing] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

[crying] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

♪ ominous music builds ♪

[heavy breathing] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

[SCREAMS] ♪ ominous music builds ♪

[glass shatters]

♪ sad music ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[Thunder]

♪ sad music rises ♪

♪ ♪

♪ music becomes more ominous ♪

♪ ♪

[Screams]

♪ dark low tone ♪

♪ music fades ♪