If you are a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, you owe it to yourself to go see Frailty. This film is a well-made example of a genre that Hitchcock excelled in, obviously Bill Paxton (who both starred and directed) subscribes to his theory "The audience must be made to suffer" - because, indeed you will. In fact, I would go so far as to say do not take your children to this film - my favorite AMC theater was checking IDs for the first time for an "R" rated film, and I found after viewing I thought that was the correct call - this is not a film for the young or the squeamish or the sensitive of any age group.
This film is a very effective suspense thriller - I found myself holding my breath in parts, and dreading others. There is almost explicit violence here - meaning you will see someone raise an axe and strike - but the blow itself lands off-camera. Nor is there much blood - it's not a splatter film, but it's far scarier.
I have only one criticism:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) This is not a film with a single unambiguous interpretation either. There are obviously plot points where several different facts can be inferred, and depending upon which ones you select, the plot itself is very different. However, this was obviously the intent - it's deliberate and considered ambiguity, which I find slightly heavy-handed. For example, I don't think it's possible to know for certain if Bill Paxton as "Dad" Meiks is a crazy psychotic, a genuine soldier of God fighting demons, or a normal father whose actions are simply imagined by one of his mentally-ill sons.
Although I sat in my usual seat in my favorite theater, I frankly don't remember any details about picture or sound, except that no obvious flaws existed. That gives you some idea about how intense this film is. There is one scene that has what I would call a special effect (the image of an angel with a flaming sword), I think it should have been left out and inferred by "Dad's" dialogue or the surrounding events. In any case, it was what looked like an optical matte and was not particularly well done.
Overall, I'd say my criticisms are real minor compared to what I liked about Frailty. If you are a fan of intense suspense thrillers, this film is a certain "must see". However, the faint-of-heart, the easily frightened, and of course those who detest violence should avoid it.
Gary
This film is a very effective suspense thriller - I found myself holding my breath in parts, and dreading others. There is almost explicit violence here - meaning you will see someone raise an axe and strike - but the blow itself lands off-camera. Nor is there much blood - it's not a splatter film, but it's far scarier.
I have only one criticism:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) This is not a film with a single unambiguous interpretation either. There are obviously plot points where several different facts can be inferred, and depending upon which ones you select, the plot itself is very different. However, this was obviously the intent - it's deliberate and considered ambiguity, which I find slightly heavy-handed. For example, I don't think it's possible to know for certain if Bill Paxton as "Dad" Meiks is a crazy psychotic, a genuine soldier of God fighting demons, or a normal father whose actions are simply imagined by one of his mentally-ill sons.
Although I sat in my usual seat in my favorite theater, I frankly don't remember any details about picture or sound, except that no obvious flaws existed. That gives you some idea about how intense this film is. There is one scene that has what I would call a special effect (the image of an angel with a flaming sword), I think it should have been left out and inferred by "Dad's" dialogue or the surrounding events. In any case, it was what looked like an optical matte and was not particularly well done.
Overall, I'd say my criticisms are real minor compared to what I liked about Frailty. If you are a fan of intense suspense thrillers, this film is a certain "must see". However, the faint-of-heart, the easily frightened, and of course those who detest violence should avoid it.
Gary
