Fans of the book series by Stephanie Meyer – of which “Twilight” is the first – can take heart that the filmmakers made a worthy translation. Romance, loneliness and the anticipation of danger are the coins of the realm in this new fantasy film. Twilighters – a nickname for the fan base – will take more from each scene than series virgins, but I suspect there may be a few converts after this likeable adaption. The movie is not for everyone; action and horror buffs will be disappointed by the lack of both. Instead, “Twilight” is for those who like romance with a little bite.
Teenage Bella (Kristin Stewart, “Into the Wild”) decides to stay with her estranged father in Washington when her mom goes on a road trip. Her dad, Sheriff Swan (Billy Burke, “Untraceable”), is the law enforcement for a small town deep in the towering northwest woods. She encounters the same problems any transfer student would at a new school, suffering from too much attention without knowing anyone. Despite collecting a mish-mash of friends from around the school, Bella becomes fascinated by a family of foster kids who keep to themselves. She is strangely drawn to one of the Cullen kids named Edward (Robert Pattinson, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), who looks and acts different than most people. Bella discovers Edward’s secret, leading to a bond that even death may not break. She learns from a string of unexplained deaths that the supernatural is lurking all around her in this sleepy little town.
The story is a slow build which may not pull the uninitiated in immediately. Something is different about the town and the Cullen kids but director Catherine Hardwicke (“Lords of Dogtown”) makes you wait for the big reveal. The movie lives on anticipation – when is Bella going to find out about Edward, are they going to get together, will she survive? The atmosphere of impending doom is intoxicating. The performances of Stewart, Pattinson and Burke help lend believability to the world created by the author.
A visceral connection existed on-screen between Stewart and Pattinson, as Bella is simultaneously infatuated and frightened by Edward. There are moments when Pattinson’s performance comes on a little too strong, but much is forgivable when an author is so deftly rewriting the rules of the genre. “Twilight” is a worthy start to a likely franchise. I expect later incarnations will only get better.
Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality.
