"Shattered" is an old-school psychological thriller in which an intricate puzzle is cleverly created concerning a man who's been seriously injured in a car crash. As the story progresses, numerous clues to the puzzle are provided but it's always unclear which ones are reliable and which are intentionally misleading. Similarly, the natures of the various characters who provide these clues are also uncertain.
Dan Merrick (Tom Berenger) and his wife Judith (Greta Scacchi) are driving home from a New Year's Eve party when their car suddenly leaves the road and plunges down a steep embankment. Judith is thrown clear and only incurs superficial injuries. Dan, on the other hand, is trapped in the wreckage and subsequently spends a considerable amount of time in a coma before undergoing extensive plastic surgery on his disfigured face.
As a consequence of the accident, Dan suffers from selective amnesia and flashbacks in which he sees shattered glass, huge waves and a gun. He's also unable to remember any information about his personal life and during his recuperation; Judith dedicates herself to his care and tries to help him by sharing recollections about their life together and showing him photographs.
Dan's a wealthy property developer and is surprised when his business partner Jeb Scott (Corbin Bernsen) mentions that before the accident, Dan and Judith's marriage was on the rocks. Jeb's wife Jenny (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) tells him that he and she were lovers and he also discovers photographs of Judith in bed with another man.
Dan finds a receipt for a payment he'd previously made to a pet shop and on visiting the premises discovers that the proprietor, Gus Klein (Bob Hoskins) is also a part-time private detective who he'd paid to follow Judith. Klein had discovered that she was having an affair with a man called Jack Stanton (Scott Getlin) and so when Dan hears that Judith has received a telephone call from Stanton, and decides to follow her, the events that follow ultimately lead to a shocking discovery.
"Shattered" is a stylish movie in which deception, murder and treachery feature strongly and numerous unexpected plot developments keep the action intriguing and tense. The fact that the audience discovers the clues at the same time as Dan creates a great deal of empathy for his predicament and a clear understanding of the confusion and frustration that he experiences.
This movie is graced by consistently solid performances but Tom Berenger and Bob Hoskins stand out. Berenger does well in conveying his character's confusion and helplessness and Hoskins is a powerful and entertaining presence in every scene in which he appears.
Dan Merrick (Tom Berenger) and his wife Judith (Greta Scacchi) are driving home from a New Year's Eve party when their car suddenly leaves the road and plunges down a steep embankment. Judith is thrown clear and only incurs superficial injuries. Dan, on the other hand, is trapped in the wreckage and subsequently spends a considerable amount of time in a coma before undergoing extensive plastic surgery on his disfigured face.
As a consequence of the accident, Dan suffers from selective amnesia and flashbacks in which he sees shattered glass, huge waves and a gun. He's also unable to remember any information about his personal life and during his recuperation; Judith dedicates herself to his care and tries to help him by sharing recollections about their life together and showing him photographs.
Dan's a wealthy property developer and is surprised when his business partner Jeb Scott (Corbin Bernsen) mentions that before the accident, Dan and Judith's marriage was on the rocks. Jeb's wife Jenny (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) tells him that he and she were lovers and he also discovers photographs of Judith in bed with another man.
Dan finds a receipt for a payment he'd previously made to a pet shop and on visiting the premises discovers that the proprietor, Gus Klein (Bob Hoskins) is also a part-time private detective who he'd paid to follow Judith. Klein had discovered that she was having an affair with a man called Jack Stanton (Scott Getlin) and so when Dan hears that Judith has received a telephone call from Stanton, and decides to follow her, the events that follow ultimately lead to a shocking discovery.
"Shattered" is a stylish movie in which deception, murder and treachery feature strongly and numerous unexpected plot developments keep the action intriguing and tense. The fact that the audience discovers the clues at the same time as Dan creates a great deal of empathy for his predicament and a clear understanding of the confusion and frustration that he experiences.
This movie is graced by consistently solid performances but Tom Berenger and Bob Hoskins stand out. Berenger does well in conveying his character's confusion and helplessness and Hoskins is a powerful and entertaining presence in every scene in which he appears.