The film revolves around a girl named Rose who suffers from a serious illness. Now, the murderer Rose decides to complete an important contract and then retires to live in peace away from everything that happens in her life and her desire may turn into an alien reality.
The raw materials for a gutsy, gritty, fearless, fascinating thriller are here, but they amount to some intriguing individual parts and not a satisfying, cohesive whole.
It tells a story that would fit perfectly in a standard Hollywood action thriller, but it tells it in the grammar and syntax of an art film. The two sensibilities make no sense together.
Film Journal International
March 01, 2007
Despite assembling a talented cast and crew, Daniels is stymied here by a script that takes itself far too seriously.
The one thing I'll say about Shadowboxer is that it's never boring. Of course, I could also say that about stepping on crushed glass.
Seattle Times
August 04, 2006
It ... has an insistently fussy and grandiose production design that mistakes lavish textures, brilliant colors and exotic backdrops for story atmosphere and style.
eFilmCritic.com
November 04, 2006
The script can't quite get a grasp on character depth, yet it also can't quite deliver the cheap thrills such a trashy tale might otherwise provide.
