Even though many people here praises this movie, I have to warn you. It has no logic whatsoever. I think that Basinger does a decent job at acting, but you can't make a thriller if there is a great lack of realism.

This scene paints a good picture for you of the movie : while Basinger is pursued by murderous thugs she decides to sit down and gaze upon a picture she finds from her pocket. The picture is from her daughter and it reads "we love you mommy". Who does something like that ? What the eff? And believe me when I say that it is not nearly as stupid as some other scenes of the movie. Someone stated that this is a "hidden gem". Well, I have to strongly disagree, this movie has stayed hidden for a reason. And it's not a gem. Oh, and please, I don't even want to start commenting about the red toolbox. It hurts my brain :D Usually the lack of logic does not bother me if it is in small amounts, but this movie basically is made possible only because of the lack of logic. But, i still give it a 4 because even though it is embarrassingly flawed in logic, it has certain mood that kept me watching till the end.

So if you choose to watch this, you know you have been warned.

So this is what actress Kim Basinger has succumbed to? Mmm… to tell the truth the film's title is something quite eye grabbing to getting your interest and plot outline reads so basic, but simplicity can have its strengths. Anyhow by the end of 'While She Was Out' I was left feeling rather indifferent. Not the worse (despite being engulfed by negatives), but there's easily way better in what is an causally lukewarm, but compact and unbalanced late-night survival fable of a feeble suburban housewife stranded in the woods trying to fight for her life after she witnessed the death of a rent a cop that came to her aid, when she provoked an ugly exchange with some punks in a shopping car park.

The problem here falls on the misguidedly erratic and foreseeable material (taken from a short story), along with the very variable performances. The flimsy script was poorly thought-out (which isn't so good when your plot has a slight structure to hang off), so many wretched inclusions and dubious actions just go on to find its way in this endless chain of events. As for the bunch of stereotypical goons (led by an unconvincing Lukas Hass as a loose canon) terrorizing Basinger, well they were less than threatening, but hopelessly clueless. Watching Basinger scrounging around in the dank wilderness with a red tool box in her hand (don't ask me why?) knocking off these wannabe punks one by one became ridiculous because it didn't elicit tension or emotion… but instead clumsy jolts that were absurdly daft because of the stupidity of the lead up. Basinger's performance is stout-like, but doesn't craft much empathy. Craig Sheffer shows up as her hot-headed husband. Strangely I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen… thinking to myself that red toolbox is hypnotic (why would she be constantly carrying it) and what tool was she going to use to dispatch the next thug… her choices were quite disappointing. Watching her transformation through the traumatic situation when things are finally turned around is rather empty, due to its unsure tone and the ending is something you could see miles ahead.

Susan Montford's soberly slick direction lacks cohesion and energy, as it pretty much chugs along. I liked the opening credits though, with its hauntingly sullen score (which is the most effective thing throughout the feature) and polished photography.

No great shakes. Doesn't ask much of your time, but I wouldn't care to see it again. However with the inclusion of a Joy Division song, it made me grab a couple of their albums for a listen.

A suburban mother, Della(Basinger), from a gated community, who has endured an abusive marriage from an intense bullying husband, goes out to get wrapping paper, doesn't appreciate that a gang of punks parked out of place blocking a spot so she couldn't pull in there(it's Christmas eve and traffic's a bitch), leaving a note to them in anger. Dirtbag Haas and his wannabe gangsters enact a war with Della over something so trivial which starts after he shoots a "rent-a-cop" while in the midst of an argument(it's simple, the security cop wants Haas to leave Della alone and he refuses, resulting in multiple gun shots to the skull). It becomes a fight for survival as this band of thugs attempt to find and execute Della, resulting in their own demise. I love the premise of someone like this beautiful mom, cut off from what is the "real world", having tolerated her husband's nasty treatment over the years, finally snapping, with those who pushed her over the edge suffering the consequences. Haas has evolved from his cutesy child actor days and now plays all kinds of interesting characters, in WHILE SHE WAS OUT, he's equipped with one of those repellent scumbags, the kind of polarizing jerk who gets what's coming to him to the delight of the audience. Basinger is superb in a change-of-pace role, showing someone who has had enough, tired of being the victim, who takes it upon herself to stay alive by whatever means are at her disposal. Her Della is a bundle of nerves and all she wants to do really is get back to her kids(that's obviously enough motivation to do what is needed possible, right?). It's interesting how diverse this gang is, Asian, African-American, Latino, and Haas, their ringleader. All Della has is a tool box with weapons like a wrench and tire iron to use against her pursuers. Sure, it's strength in numbers at first, but as that dwindles, Haas will find that this bitch won't go down without a fight. Particularly interesting is when Haas' Chuckie sizes Della up and she, in turn, seduces him, using her seemingly ageless beauty as a means to buy herself some time. And, to see Della so completely liberated by this night, to put an end to the routine, she is able to face her husband and finish the movie with a bang. Craig Sheffer makes a brief, but impressionable, appearance as Basinger's loathsome husband. The plot isn't overly complicated and the pace is fast..it is rather funny that all this starts because of a parking space.