Reviewed by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com
Directed by Stephen Sommers (The Mummy) and adapted from the supernatural thriller novel by Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas is a little quirky thriller with some neat special effects, a very likeable cast, and a fast-moving story and last but not least, it has some great little jumps peppered throughout.
The wonderful Anton Yelchin is Odd – a short-order cook that has the ability to see the dead and one mysterious man has just caught his eye.
His investigation into the man leads him down the rabbit hole and up against dark and terrifying forces.
That’s about as much info on the plot I can give away without ruining anything but I can say that the story of Odd Thomas is quite fun and entertaining and over all, it’s just plainly a satisfying piece of entertainment.
It’s one of those films where you can shift the puzzles into place before they actually fall into their spots but at the same time, it’s not a bad thing at all that you might see it coming because gosh darn it, you’re having a blast because it’s all such good fun.
One thing I want to point out is that the film’s got an odd tone about it all – it’s definitely supernatural and horror but like The Mummy, you’ll have the odd vein of darkness about it but there’s also a lightness to the script and the soundtrack and the performances that keeps it from being too nasty and this is something I enjoyed as it kept my attention.
One thing I appreciate about Stephen Sommers is that the man brings a lot of energy to his projects and he brings the same liveliness to the action and the scares and everything else that goes on within the strange new world of Odd Thomas.
I’ve always enjoyed Yelchin’s performances as he’s just got that regular-everyday-guy vibe about him that works in whatever role he plays and his performance as Odd (Yes, that’s his real name) brings the same sort of goofiness and charm that makes the character so appealing.
Willem Dafoe – do I need to say more? That man could read his shopping list and I’d be enthralled.
He’s got a small role but he makes the most of it and what’s even better, he turns in a fun performance.
I think the actress Addison Timlin was lovely as the adorable Stormy Llewellyn, as she effortlessly put sass in the character when it was needed; she put heart in the role when the time called for it and she had great chemistry with Yelchin.
If I had one minor complaint, it’s the fact that the film’s on high speed so much that it twists and turns to it’s end game when I would’ve liked it to breathe a little and further explore the relationship with Odd, his girlfriend and the world around him.
That minor complaint out of the way, I think Odd Thomas is worth a viewing, as it’s just great fun to watch unfold and it helps that it’s lively little thriller with a solid cast that wonderfully breathes life into their characters.
Knowing that the book on which it’s based is the first in a series, I’m hopeful it does well as I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel come to fruition.