Published: November 20, 2006 08:45 am      

‘The Return’ not just another typical film

There are always certain go-to people when making certain movies. When the topic is slapstick, think Will Farrell. When trying to promote an Oscar contender, try Anthony Hopkins. But when the order calls for a more mythical, unusual genre, Sarah Michelle Gellar has it covered.

With “The Grudge” and its sequel under her belt, along with the former hit “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” it’s only natural that she takes on a movie like “The Return,” a film that may come off as slow paced but keeps it interesting along the way.

While initially being shopped around as a Grudge-like movie in its trailer, “The Return” actually has nothing in common with it, minus the lead actor.

Gellar stars as loner Joanna Mills, a sales representative based out of St. Louis who lives out of roadside hotels and her Dodge Ram. Not a typical 25-year-old, Joanna spends much of her time on the road with contact from very few people. In the attempt to gain a promotion from her job, she takes on a tough assignment to sell her services to a businessman in Texas. However, flashbacks of her childhood cause her to be wary of the Lone Star state, although she cannot explain why.

As she makes her way into the state via deserted highway, an accident occurs, causing Joanna to be left dazed and confused. As time passes, flashbacks of places she’s never been before become more frequent, along with scenarios she’s never been in. La Salle, Texas soon becomes a focus for Joanna, and she heads to the small town, only to discover the feeling that she had been there before and her history may be coming back to haunt her.

First off, “The Return” isn’t a rehashed American version of “The Grudge,” which is a good thing. In fact, it shouldn’t even be categorized as a horror, because it’s more suspense-based than anything. The whole premise behind “The Return” isn’t something that everyone is going to enjoy. It actually showed originality and not just another run-of-the-mill teen flick that’s been bombarding cinemas lately. Gellar is obviously the main focus and selling point for the movie, and she seems to have discovered what works for her best: suspense.

“The Return” offers up a unique look at life and just what may be the cause of déjà vu. After all, a sizeable portion of the world population’s beliefs can’t all be wrong, right?