Frailty
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Movie Reviews of Frailty
Movie Review: Chilling, thoughtful and disturbing.
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no one word to describe Bill Paxton's FRAILTY (2002), his directorial debut. All three of the above words apply to this tantalizing, amazing film--the most amazing fact is that this IS Bill Paxton's directorial debut. This movie is so well crafted with a master's artistic hand that you would swear that a suspense veteran such as Brian De Palma (CARRIE, OBSESSION), Ridley Scott (ALIEN), Barbet Schroeder (SINGLE WHITE FEMALE) or Taylor Hackford (THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE) had directed it. I personally cannot wait to review Mr. Paxton's next film; I'm sure that it will be different, but great nonetheless. FRAILTY itself is different--a very different kind of movie. It begins by being told in a conventional manner, via the flashback technique. In fact, it sets the story up so conventionally that we fall rather easily for the direction in which Paxton takes us. This film successfully manipulates us to believe that the story is heading in one particular way. By the end, we've been duped, and duped so brilliantly that we had never seen it coming to us in the first place.
FRAILTY is regarded as a horror/suspense thriller. If this film has to be categorized, then this would probably be the most accurate label to put on it. If you're reading this far, you undoubtably know that it is about religious fanaticism and the violent acts resulting from it. You know that it concerns Bill Paxton as a Texas "Dad" (who is, interestingly enough, never named in the film, another tactic of artistic brilliance on the part of Brent Hanley, who wrote the film's screenplay) who awakens his two young sons in the middle of an otherwise ordinary night and breathlessly tells them of a "revelation from a heavenly angel" about what they "now must do" in the name of "God's work." What they "now must do" involves killing "demons in human form" by way of decaptitation via the axe.
The family last name is "Meiks" (which phonetically sounds like "meek"--I wonder if the film's title relates to that?), and the two sons, Fenton and Adam (ages 12 and 9, respectively) are now left to take this information all in. The younger one does, the older one doesn't--in fact, he believes that Dad has just flipped, as he had apparently never been much of a religious man and, besides, this plan to "rid the world of demons" sounds just plain crazy. However, the axe-slayings do begin to occur; one son goes along willingly and the other tries to resist as best as he possibly can.
You know all of the above by now. But if you think that this is all of what FRAILTY is about, then you don't even know the half of it. This brilliant film has more twists and turns that you could shake a Magnolia stick at; however, these twists/turns are handled with a maximum of subtlety and with a minimum of incredulity.
The acting performances of all of the principals are genuine, and never step wrongly even once. Bill Paxton walks an incredibly fine line of portraying a character who remains sympathetic even as he is systematically decapitating those he believes are not human beings, but demons. Matthew O'Leary does an excellent job of portraying the elder Meiks child as emotionally conflicted between the love of his father and the hatred for what it is he's doing. Jeremy Sumpter creates a perfect counter-foil as the younger, more impressionable and believing son for whom this murderous rampage either makes total sense, or he is simply following the wishes of his father. But it us Matthew McConaughey's performance that is the most memorable; it is an absolute outrage that he did not receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in this role, the most enigmatic of his career.
Lastly, it is the screenplay by Brent Hanley and direction by Bill Paxton that are the real stars of the film; inded, this movie should have received Oscar nominations in both categories, and for Best Picture, to boot. It is just another example of unfair bias against the horror/suspense genre; that a film of markedly greater quality than most of the overblown and overrated dramas that are usually honored becomes lost in the Hollywood shuffle of the Holiday Season. It's too bad, because most of the axemurders depicted in this film are offscreen; indeed, what is most palpable in each and every scene (and, ultimately, more horrifying) is the *psychological* horror involved in the telling of this story. It is a story that is totally believable; indeed, it is amazing to my mind that it does not even claim to have been based on a true story! It is also a story that is emotionally draining. Finally, it is a story that is so well-told that it makes you reflect on it for a good long time afterwards.
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Movie Review: A uniquely non-stereotypical film that takes hold of you
Summary: 5 Stars
Hollywood more often than not goes out of its way to portray religious (specifically Christian) people as heavies or villains or antagonists, or pompous hypocrites, or just plain mentally unstable nutjobs. Even though most Americans are themselves religious and statistically Christian, Hollywood heedlessly and brazenly persists in its willful oblivion of and arrogant condescension towards the sentiments held in esteem by the majority of Americans (demonstrated again in the recent spate of anti-U.S. military films that are being released into well-deserved dismal box office failure). Even Stephen King, an immensely capable writer whose work I have enjoyed and praised, regularly uses religious (Christian) characters as villains or at the very least as buffoonish one-dimensional stock characters meant for ridicule and disdain. On the other hand, extremist religious sects that actually promote and practice violence are often ignored, or given a sympathetic depiction (SYRIANA), or replaced with implausible politically-correct substitutes - as in the case of the remarkable cowardice and craven pandering which turned an adequate though highly farfetched book like "Sum of All Fears" into the inane and excrementally insipid film SUM OF ALL FEARS.
But what if someone could make a decent movie that depicts Christians as good people AND scary as well?
I had not heard about FRAILTY when it was released and was not familiar with the film until it had reached the rental market.
In spite of what seemed like another unflattering and stereotypically caricatured depiction of religious (and Texan) folk, I was slightly intrigued by the storyline and thought it might make for at least relatively interesting viewing at a time of very few other promising alternatives worth renting.
For those who do not know and are interested, FRAILTY tells the story of a man named Meiks (Matthew McCaugheney) who claims to have knowledge of the "GOD's Hand killer", a serial killer from the 70's who was never caught or even identified. Meiks relays his alleged information to the authorities, in particular to a skeptical FBI Agent (Powers Booth) who regards Meiks as somewhat of an unsettling mystery. The bulk of the film mainly consists of Meiks's recollection of events past and current, as presented through flashbacks and his testimony. There is more to the plot, but I really don't want to give too much of the story away for those who want to see the film, because I think very highly of it and believe it should be seen unspoiled.
Though there won't be a unanimous consensus of support for the following opinion, Bill Paxton is a capable and effective actor, though perhaps not the most skilled thespian to ever appear on screen. Nonetheless, he is invariably believable in his character roles. Where his even greater talent and skills seem to lie is as a director. I have seen two of his films (FRAILTY and THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED) that he directed, and enjoyed them both. The reason I watched THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED was because of how impressed I was with FRAILTY. And I thought that both were skillfully made and entertaining, although they represent VERY different sensibilities of the psyche. In addition to finding the right tone and energy and performance level for his actors, Paxton also has a talent for creative and effective visuals, even when just using relatively simple techniques. This film does not rely on any flashy or high-tech effects, yet still makes for effective scenes. Without giving too much away, there is a scene in FRAILTY where Bill Paxton's character is driving and sees a barn off in the middle of the countryside. Though it is a fairly simple setting and premise, it is one of my all-time favorite sequences I have seen in movies, and possibly one of the most effective and compelling. It's a goosebump-raiser for me, even just thinking about it while I write this.
This film has some critics and detractors, in addition to the usual coterie of obnoxious loudmouths who unnecessarily spew hyperbole and exaggerated pejoratives about films that don't conform to their own narrow screed. And in all fairness, this film may not be everyone's cup of tea. There are those who might not like the film for their own valid reasons. But I think it is a very impressive and engaging film - especially considering the relatively modest budget. It is a story that is well-written and creative, as well as capably and effectively directed.
Movie Review: Transfusing fresh blood into the tired Serial Killer genre.
Summary: 5 Stars
Over the years, serial killers have become a staple of the horror genre. The concept that such intense cruelty and brutality can be committed by someone who could live right next door to you is infinitely more terrifying than any vampire, werewolf, or zombie could ever hope to be.Still, the serial killer genre is in danger of becoming stale and overused. For every "Silence of the Lambs" there are about 10 "Jason X"s, and for every "Se7en" there are a hundred "Urban Legend"s. And between the two extremes lies a hoard of forgettable, mediocre films.
Frailty, however, is just the sort of film to breathe new life back into the genre. In his directorial debut, Bill Paxton brings us a dark, surreal crime thriller with a touch of the supernatural.
The movie begins when Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) arrives in the office of FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Booth) claiming the serial killer calling himself "God's Hands" is really his younger brother, Adam. In an effort to convince Agent Doyle of his sincerity, he begins to relate the horrifying tale of his childhood.
As Fenton talks, the film flashes back to 1979, showing Fenton and Adam as young boys (played respectively by Matthew O'Leary and Jeremy Sumpter) living with their recently widowed father (Paxton), referred to only as `Dad'. Dad is your average working-class father, working as an auto-mechanic and trying his best to raise his two sons right.
Fenton's idyllic world begins to crumble around him, however, when one night Dad claims to have been visited by an angel. He's been told that he and his sons have been made "God's Hands", and it is their duty to destroy demons. Although these demons have taken the forms of normal humans, Dad claims he and his sons will see them for what they truly are: utter monsters. Over the next week, Dad is sent a set of holy tools (an axe and a pair of gloves found in an abandoned barn), and a list of demons to destroy (a seemingly random list of normal people). Before long he's destroying demons, or as Fenton sees it, killing innocent people. Worse still, as the killings progress, Adam is being drawn further into his father's world of religious mania.
Most of the movie takes place during the '79 flashback, making O'Leary, Sumpter, and Paxton the stars of the movie. O'Leary skillfully depicts young Fenton's struggle between his love for his family and his horror over Dad's actions. Sumpter displays a similar conflict in his character, but he is torn between his brother and his father's mission. He's the innocent youngster who loves his father unconditionally, and refuses to believe he's gone insane. Paxton's performance is simply chilling. He discusses destroying demons with his sons in the same tone he might use to talk about baseball or homework. He feels only duty towards "destroying demons", but gets physically ill when he's forced to commit a real murder.
McConaughey is barely seen until the end of the movie, and spends most of the film narrating his flashback. When he is seen, he's chillingly detached and morose. You can tell he's hiding something, but you can't tell just what until it's almost staring you in the face.
For his directorial debut, Paxton does a remarkable job. He cuts deftly between the present day and '79, without making the story confusing as could easily be done. The death scenes show everything up to the moment of the killing, forcing you to cringe and imagine the gore rather than see it for yourself.
Of course it helps that he was given a fantastic script to work with by Brent Hanley. There are a number of twists throughout the film that you probably won't see coming until they're revealed. The ending makes the film all the more terrifying and shatters any preconceived beliefs you may have had, although some may find it a bit heavy-handed.
Frailty isn't just scary; it's creepy as hell. Any fan of horror and psychological thrillers should find this movie more than worth the DVD price.
Movie Review: The Family that prays together, SLAYS together!
Summary: 5 Stars
Faith, like sex and sacrifice, is one of the most mysterious aspects of human existence; what is it that would spur a man to give his own life for that which cannot be glimpsed with the eyes, or proved by the senses? With that in mind, "Frailty", Bill Paxton's fine little nugget of terror in the American Heartland is a fine film that marks the actor's promising directorial debut, and a desperate, dark journey into the depths of religious hysteria and the implosion of what seems a picture-perfect American family.
The movie is awe-inspiring, stunning, mystifying; it is so good that I'm not going to spoil any of its twists and turns, other than to say that Paxton's movie (with spare and well-paced writing by Brent Hanley) is a taut, nasty little homage to Alfred Hitchcock.
The plot, very quickly (and spoiler free): the FBI have been hunting for the "God's Hand Killer", a West Texas axe murderer who has been terrorizing the region for two decades. The film, presented as what Hitchcock would have called a 'frame story', begins with Matthew McConaughey confessing to the startled Dallas FBI Agent Wesley Doyle, played succinctly by Powers Boothe. McConaughey, who plays Fenton Meiks, contends that his brother, Adam, is the killer the FBI is looking for.
The movie then flashes back to Thurman, Texas in 1979, where Fenton and Adam (played remarkably by two awfully poised and very natural young actors, Matthew O'Leary and Jeremy Sumpter)are growing up with their father (Bill Paxton), an affable auto mechanic and a good father, who wakes his sons in the middle of the night to tell them that he's had a vision from the Angel of the Lord. Paxton, whose acting is solid and discomfiting, announces to his startled boys that the End of Times is at hand, and the family has a new duty: to cast out demons masquerading as people.
Paxton's new religious fervor don't come from the peaceful New Testament side of Christianity, either: new 'visions' follow in rapid succession, and Paxton brings home some grisly new tools the family of "Holy Superheroes" will need to carry out their new mission against the forces of Evil, including an axe named Otis. As might be expected, bloodshed and horror (though not gory horror; this is not meant to be a splatter film, and the camera averts its eye during the more horrific sequences).
What follows in the next hour and a half is an taut and astonishing suspense thriller in which the audience naturally empathizes with the plight of young Fenton Meeks: what do you do when you're 10 years old and your beloved father (and only parent) goes stark raving mad? Even better is the growing rift between older brother Fenton and the rest of the family; as Paxton's character drifts further into religious madness and blood frenzy, youngest son Adam embarks with him into credulity and a kind of idol-worship.
The cinematography (by Bill Butler, who worked on both "Jaws" and "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest") is stark and haunting; Paxton uses the sere, flat, barren California landscape to telling effect, and the sequence in which Paxton finds 'Otis' is haunting and eerie. The acting here is also solid; Paxton portrays his religious zealot with an unnerving practicality and steadiness, McConaughey turns into a fine performance in which he gets to use his native Texas accent, and the two child actors lend strength and vitality to a film that would have been lost without good child leads. It's also nice to see Powers Boothe back in a film, and he does a nice job with the meaty role he's been given.
Be warned: "Frailty" is not a piece of horror-movie fluff, and it is not for those who are easily disturbed. Its horrors are as familiar as a family reunion, and its terrors linger long in the mind's eye. There are rewards for those who follow this unsettling little film to its end, but be warned: the price of looking is having to watch.
Movie Review: "Sometimes truth defies reason."
Summary: 5 Stars
The Meiks brothers had a troubled childhood. Very troubled. Their mother had died after Adam was born, leaving his older brother Fenton to take care of him with the help of their father. The three males seemed to fend well for themselves, not running into too many bumps in their simple yet strange road in life. It was a fairly close-knit family with plenty of pleasant memories and more to come. But all of that changed one night when Dad (curiously, his name was never revealed in the film, being credited as "Dad Meiks") rushed into the boys' room, flipped on the light, woke them up, and began to unravel an unusual tale that would change the very course of their lives in a most dramatic way. Dad had been visited by an angel - an angel sent by God himself. The heavenly apparition told him of his new calling: to be a destroyer of demons. According to the angel, the biblical end times had come and there were demons of Hell now walking among mortal man, disguised as humans. Dad would be given sacred weapons from the angel soon, and thereafter he would receive a list. The list held the names of the demons in disguise - names that appeared to be mere human identities, but, just like the demons themselves, were simply cover-ups for the true evil that lurked in their soul. It was now up to this family of three to become warriors of God. The young Adam obeyed his father and came to believe every bit of it. But Fenton was disturbed by these ideas, insisting to himself that his father had lost his mind and nothing this crazy could be real. Yet surely enough, step by step, it all began becoming a reality. The main slaughtering weapon had been retrieved - an abandoned axe in an old shed, with gloves by its side. They came to find out, that the gloves were for Dad to use when capturing the demons and bringing them back to the house. Because when he would remove the gloves and touch them with his bare hands, he could see their dark sin nature and know for sure who they really were. They weren't humans of course, they were pathetic demons - no match for the wrath of God that was being handed out through this divinely chosen man and his sons. At first Fenton wanted to run away and get help. But as time moved on, trapped within this world of madness and extremism, he began to question his reality as a whole. Could he brake away from this terrible mess he'd been drawn into, or was he destined to become a demon-slayer, just as his father was, and just as his brother would come to be? Years later, as a full-grown adult, he gets a frantic phone call from his brother. Shortly after, he decides to give FBI agent Wesley Doyle a visit and finally relieve himself of these secrets that have plagued him all his life. At first Doyle is confused as to why he would come to him to reveal the mystery behind the "God's Hand" serial killer case. Yet once he unveils this deranged tale and the story progresses, they take a trip to the burial site of the victims, where reality warps and warps until it all comes into focus. It turns out that the truth is more twisted than the viewer could have ever imagined.
2001's Frailty is a dark web beautifully spun by it's makers and deserves a look from any and every fan of suspense and horror films. It's a clever, disturbing, thought-provoking piece with plenty of twists and turns that will leave you impressed - if not a bit creeped out! Starring Bill Paxton, Mathew McConaughey, and Powers Booth (among others) you can be assured that the acting really brings out the depth and haunting minds of the characters. And with a great script and crew work, it's no wonder why this is one of the best films in years for fans of the genre. Not to mention several nice extras on the DVD (including deleted scenes, documentaries/featurettes, and commentary by director/actor Bill Paxton). For sure, Frailty is a winner all the way!