I've been watching this movie for the past 6 years and dont thinkbelieve that there is any supernatural element here. For those of you who don't buy the supernatural theory; what mental disorder do you think ( forgot his name) the main character suffered from? I hate to be a message board psychiatrist but do you think he had some type of nervous breakdown? Or was he schizophrenic because he did hear voices......
shareThe whole point of the tapes in the movie (aside from creeping you out) is that by the end you realize Gordon and Mary were the same, or suffered from the same illness. I don't know what it's called but they both heard voices that made them kill loved ones after suffering pain (mary getting cut by the doll and Gordon getting burned by boiling water) and they both blocked out the trauma. The only difference being that Mary had multiple personality disorders and I don't think Gordon did.
shareI think Gordon had schizophrenia. Mary possibly had multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia. I'm not sure that I would understand this movie if I watched it many times though. Tons of holes.
shareStress. Anger. Wendy accidently spilled the hot water on Gordon and he responded by killing her and their baby. Mary was frightened by her brother and became very angry and her ego was damaged so she went at him with a knife. Gordon wanted a rush job and the stress made him snap. There are a lot of people out there with pots of boiling water about to spill over into uncontrolled rage. It is up to each one of us to keep a cool head and help a person who is angry and about to act on that anger.
shareHe was possessed by "Simon", the same spirit that possessed Mary. Simon possessed Mary and had her kill her family. When Mary died at the asylum, Simon was released and remained until another of the "weak and the wounded" was receptive to possession. That would be Gordon, who was already exhausted by the issues with the baby, job and marriage. As soon as Gordon enters, you hear Simon introduce himself with a "Hello Gordon". That's when the possession began.
share^best explanation yet. I can confirm there is a "hello gordon" from Simon in the beginning where they first enter.
bump/bravo
And that night, he did what he did.
shareYeah, I think that's right.
The Billy and Princess identities sounded similar enough to Mary but Simon sounded like a straight up dude.
Also, it seemed clear to me that Mike opened a Pandora's box when he unsealed those tapes and that got Gordon going.
Simon was a demon that preyed on "the weak and wounded". Gordon was tired, stressed, and Simon took advantage.
shareExactly!For anyone thinking there is no supernatural element go back to the very first shot in this film!Spoilers!!!
Simon comes down from the ceiling to the wheelchair where Gorden has been standing staring as if in a trance. It all happens from there.That is why the last line of the film is so haunting!Simon preys on the weak and the wounded.He was worn out from so little sleep and needing financial help.That is how the demon entered his mind as soon as he entered the building.He was a defeated man.