By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Bill Paxton
Starring: Bill Paxton | Matthew McConaughey | Matthew O'Leary | Powers Boothe
Country: united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0264616
Laura says: “Paxton the director keeps Paxton the actor on an even keel. The kindly father shows no change in personality as he begins trapping and slaying people from neighboring towns, although a hint that the visiting angel had something distressful to say about Fenton gives the boy further cause for alarm (as well as suggesting the Old Testament story of Abraham). Young O’Leary is terrific in what amounts to the lead role of the film, a boy too young to be tortured with such a darkly complex moral conundrum. Sumpter is adequate, a wide-eyed follower. The script gives him no room to question events or his brother’s differing interpretation of them.” 3 1/2 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/frailty.htm”
Michael says: “FRAILTY is actor Bill Paxton’s directorial debut. It tells the convoluted tale of the God’s Hand Killer and the FBI’s struggle to solve the serial murders plaguing a town. Paxton plays a father to two young boys, who receives visions from God instructing him on certain demons living as humans that need to be destroyed. One son buys into Dad’s unusual new mission, while the elder remains skeptical, yet can’t bring himself to betray his father even after the first victim is killed. Years later, with Matthew McConaughey playing one of the children as an adult, telling his story to an FBI agent, the family’s history becomes even more twisted. Moody and appropriately chilling, FRAILTY doesn’t really get beyond the usual supernatural/religious thriller. And the implausibilities that keep surfacing pulled the film into the B-level. Still, any horror movie I can sit through and not flee always gives me a feeling of accomplishment.” 2 cats