Live Life Team
As horror movies go, ‘Audrey Rose’ presents an interesting idea. Elliot Hoover, played by Anthony Hopkins, tells Janice and Bill Templeton (played by Marsha Mason and John Beck) that Ivy, their daughter (played by Susan Swift), is a reincarnation of his daughter Audrey Rose.
Although this is a great concept, the movie doesn’t have a decent payoff. Ivy has nightmares about drowning in a car, which yield some great chills, and then Hoover enters the picture. Two psychics have told him that Audrey is alive again, in the body of Ivy. Naturally, the parents don’t believe it and won’t give him custody, so he goes to court. What’s truly incredulous is that the court allows the case to be heard! The viewers are supposed to believe that a court would be willing to take a child from her biological parents on the word of some reincarnation “experts” and give her to a stranger who has no connection to her.
In addition, the viewers must wonder why Hoover is seeking custody. Sure, he loves his daughter, but why take her from loving parents, Isn’t it enough just knowing she’s alive and has a new life, Then there’s the odd ending; why does Ivy suddenly die during a hypnosis session when she’s remembering Audrey’s death, That’s never explained.
Still, the acting is very good; there are some decent chills, and Hopkins, Mason, Beck and little Susan Swift are all great in their roles. The movie also has some good supporting cast members; so you can enjoy their performances. However, the story does leave some holes.
