"Most thrillers send audiences out talking about specific scary scenes or startling moments; "Frailty" leaves us with the terrifying message that the real horror may be waiting for us at home."
James Sanford KALAMAZOO GAZETTE
Insight
"A superb Southern Gothic slice of horror that is easily the sickest movie to arrive in theaters in a very long time. And I mean that in the nicest way possible." Glenn Whipp LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
There are many words that spring to mind when one attempts to describe "Frailty" but perhaps some of the most appropriate are, dark, chilling, intensely powerful, shocking, provocative, psychologicaly challenging, evil, anti-social, but hey, it is after all, only another film that fits into the genre of serial killer with a hot-line to God. May I also add at this point, a few other descritptive pieces from the other side of the coin such as clever, thought provoking, deceptively easy to stick with and, entertaining. None of us enjoy opening a newspaper, listening to the radio or turning on the television and hearing another psychopath is on a murder spree again. Yet we humans do seem to have a morbid attraction to films which depict some truly heinous crimes. The same applies to certain sports. Why do we enjoy seeing a couple of guys belting the crap out of each other round after round in a boxing ring. When the moment comes, we cheer on every punch as the unluckiest of the contestants is beaten senseless or into a bloody pulp. Heaven help the winner if he manages to short change us by ending the contest quickly. Then we boo at the thought of being somehow cheated, not by the winners skill, but rather because we didn't get what we came for. I know your going to say there's more to it, but look how popular those "Rocky" films were. We go to the speedway, a place where death can come quickly for some. Cars spin out of control at high speed, smashing into walls, erupting in flames, crushing and ripping off the limbs of drivers, snuffing a life out in the snap of a finger. Some people choose to race the bulls in Spain. They know someones going to cop it from the bulls and yet we watch it every time it's on the TV. There's nothing worse than a year when the bulls fail to gore someone. There's no spectacle in that, right? We all know thats not playing by the rules. Those damn useless bulls!
And so it is with film. Films like Hannibal, The Bone Collector, The Cell, Cape Fear, The Shining and more. They contain things many of us find totally abhorant in real life and yet we sit through it. And what really defines violence beyong bearing when you compare WW2 films in the 60's through the 80's to the modern depictions of human slaughter in films like Saving Private Ryan, Windtalkers and We Were Soldiers or the terrorist bombs in Collateral Damage and The Quiet American. We come away from such films wanting to tell friends, work mates just how entertaining they are, how real they are, yet few of us turn away. There is a fascination with these things, isn't there? So it is with "Frailty", a film about a fictional family, grieving the loss of a mother, a normal everyday family who could be living right next door. The difference is that Dad has a guardian angel and Dad now has a calling from God. No not the kind that delivers salvation and eternal life, but one which sees the wicked punished, destroyed. Where death comes thanks to Gods chosen tool, a sharp, two edged axe. I was dubious about seeing this film, after all I had been warned off. It was as though no-one wanted anyone to see it. "Frailty" was a, sort of cinema embarrasment. Could it be that bad? I entered the theatre praying to God that this film wouldn't scare me silly, that I wouldn't be found by the cleaners under a seat in the fetal position, dribbling and muttering to myself, staring at the horror repeating itself over and over again in my feeble mind. OK you smart arses, I know exactly what you're thinking, this is normal for me. Well cut it out, it aint funny. Want the truth then? Its clever, it's frightening and more importantly it was very entertaining. If I got through it without any nightmares then just about anyone can, with one exception. It isn't a film for younger viewers, so take my advice and parents, see it on your own. Must fly, time to do a little axe wielding. Oh, don't worry folks. Just a few twigs for the BBQ. Now where the hell is that axe.
The Story
"A genuinely creepy Southern Gothic thriller that once again proves that in horror movies, sometimes less is actually more."
Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST
When Fenton Meiks [Matthew McConaughy] walks into the office of FBI Agent Wesley Doyle [Powers Boothe] with a tale about a serial killer and claiming to know who he is, Doyle is naturally sceptical. But Fenton is very convincing. He reveals the notorious serial killer, Texas's "God's Hand" murderer is none other than his brother Adam. He offers to show Doyle proof. Travelling by car through the dark, wet night to a spot where he claims the victims lay buried, Fenton Meiks slowly unravels the truth behind the killings. He tells of the moment when his father was visited by an angel and chosen for a special mission. How his Dad revealed to his boys that demons have used humans bodies, both male and female, to perpetrate utterly odious crimes on innocent human beings. Through the angel, God will soon deliver a list of names to dad and the with all the strength of "God's Hand" the Meiks will hunt them down and deliver God's punishment upon these wicked demons. Justice will be swift and merciless. It will be delivered by a two edged axe.
The Verdict
"Powerful performances by McConaughey and Paxton are the hallmark of the chilling film. "Frailty" is not a film for the faint hearted or those easily shocked. It is disturbing. It is dark. It is brutal. But more important it is this, it is clever, it is entertaining and it definately is 'on the edge of your seat' cinema. The twist at the end is just the icing on the cake proving that there is nothing frail about "Frailty". Paxton's directing debut is a remarkable one indeed thanks to "Frailty". Parental advice recommmended."
What The Critics Say
"A haunting tale of murder and mayhem."
Philip Wuntch DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"With an admirably dark first script by Brent Hanley, Paxton, making his directorial feature debut, does strong, measured work."
Chuck Wilson LA WEEKLY
"A meditation on faith and madness, Frailty is blood-curdling stuff."
Steven Rea PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"A completely spooky piece of business that gets under your skin and, some plot blips aside, stays there for the duration."
Kenneth Turan LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Against all odds in heaven and hell, it creeped me out just fine."
Lisa Schwarzbaum ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
"An unsettling, memorable cinematic experience that does its predecessors proud."
Frank Scheck HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"I love the way that it took chances and really asks you to take these great leaps of faith and pays off."
Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER
"If you're in the mood to be seriously creeped out, this is the shocker for you."
Glenn Lovell SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
"A suitably suspenseful and disturbing drama."
Desson Howe WASHINGTON POST
The Cast & Crew
Bill Paxton
Matthew McConaughey
Powers Boothe
Matthew O'Leary
Jeremy Sumpter
Luke Askew
Levi Kreis
Derk Cheetwood
Missy Crider
Alan Davidson
Cynthia Ettinger
Vincent Chase
Gwen McGee
Edmond Scott Ratliff
Rebecca Tilney
Blake King
Brad Berryhill
Greg Serano
Edgar L Davis
Jim Flowers
Lance E. Nichols
John Paxton
Richard A. Bell
Chelsea Butler
Jennifer Drake
Betty Gurule
Ona Harris
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Dad Meiks
Adam Meiks
Agent Wesley Doyle
Young Fenton
Young Adam
Sheriff Smalls
Fenton Meiks
Agent Griffin Hull
Becky Meiks
Brad White
Cynthia Harbridge
Edward March
Operator
The Angel
Teacher
Eric
Teenage Demon
FBI Agent # 1
FBI Agent # 2
FBI Agent # 3
FBI Agent # 4
Janitor in Lobby
Curtis
Little Girl
Teacher's Aid
Doyle's Mother
Townswoman
Directed by Bill Paxton
Written by Brent Hanley
Original Music by Johnny Cash & Brian Tyler
Cinematography by Bill Butler
Film Editing by Arnold Glassman
Casting by Mary Gail Artz & Barbara Cohen
Production Design by Nelson Coates
Art Direction by Nelson Coates & Kevin Cozen
Set Decoration by Linda Lee Sutton
Costume Design by April Ferry
Run Time 100 minutes
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
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