Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read all the instructions prior to installing the product several times and even watched the online installation video, partly because once I watched the video it became clear that installation was not "Easy as 1-2-3!". First of all, when I took the roll out of the box there were already creases on the first four inches, which is already grounds for returning the item in my opinion, since I bought this for around $30. This would be a harbinger of things to come. I rolled the film out carefully on a flat tabletop, and put a piece of scotch tape one either side to remove the backing as described in the installation video. Unfortunately, getting the tape off proved difficult, and I struggled not to tear or scratch the film in the process. Eventually I gave up and decided it would be better to remove it when the film was on the window, but as soon as I removed about 1/5 of the backing all pretense of good behavior vanished as the film fervently began to collapse in on itself, it's low mass and the substantial static cling created as the backing was removed creating a perfect storm of crinkly vinyl. In a panic I pinned down one corner with my hand, discovering that the static cling, far from being a useful phenomenon working in tandem with the product, was in fact as I had feared an inconvenient accompaniment to a tenacious adhesive backing which was only too happy to steal the dead skin cells and oils off my fingertips. Swearing hurriedly, I laid the film flat and returned the backing and had one of my friends help me. Unfortunately, at some point to keep removing the film you have to pull the backing towards the center, and every time the film would bunch up and stick to itself. Mechanically, this film behaves as some unholy combination of cling wrap and aluminum foil and is much harder to work with than either. It clings to itself as cling wrap does, but it also creases permanently in the manner of aluminum foil, so it's much less forgiving. You really only have one shot to get it right, and the static cling turns a difficult task into one that felt nearly impossible. I will be returning my roll of Gila mirror film and will make a point next time of choosing a film without adhesive designed to use static cling instead.