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 Frailty
Starring:
Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Matt O'Leary, Jeremy Sumpter,
and Powers Boothe
Directed by: Bill Paxton
Rated: R
Blunt Bonuses:
Bill Paxton Interview
Trailer
BUY
IT
Every
once in a while a unique, intelligent, spirited film comes along
that's completely different from the generic hyped same old story
stuff we seem to be force fed to we're like viewing drones. Frailty
is one of these rare delights.
Frailty
is a 100% gripping, unapologetic, manipulating little suspense
horror film that grabs you by your terror bone and shakes you
relentlessly while twisting you through its delectable story.
There's no mercy even up to the wonderfully unpredictable end.
Bravo to screenwriter Brent Hanley for the intelligent and wickedly
scary story!
Taboo
subjects and mental "frailty" are addressed with an
almost Hitchcockian flare. I was surprised to find out this was
Bill Paxton's first film as a director…I mean it's so tight
and precise. I think had there been a less sensitive a director
Frailty could have been nothing more than some run-of-the-mill
hack fest; which it is decidedly not.
The film starts as Fenton Meiks (Matthew- all-scruffy-looking-MEOW-
McConaughey) waits in an FBI agent (Powers Booth) office late
one night with a tale about a wanted serial killer. Fenton explains
he knows who the "God's Hands" killer is, er, was. The
killer was his brother Adam, who just took his own life.
The
agent listens and ultimately takes Fenton to the Rose Garden where
Fenton claims his brother, and many of the victims' bodies lay.
As
they drive to the small town to the terrible site Fenton flashes
back with the tale of his twisted childhood and our horror begins.
It's
1979 and the Meiks' boys are busy growing up in their loving home
with their widowed dad. Dad (Bill -uber creepy- Paxton) is one
of those unsung great fathers; involved in their daily routine
and is open with his love. The smiles abound and the wonderfully
normal American family looks like a poster for single parenting
done right. It's an idealic home front…
Till
one horrid eve when dad wakes up the youngins' from a deep sleep
with a madman's tale. He's a tad upset but manages to calmly,
and disturbingly logically explain to the two young boys
that an angel has visited him from God.
The
angel, he explains, told him the families true mission
while on the Earth is to basically kill for God himself! They
will be given a list when called upon. This 'list' will expose
the demons that walk among them disguised as regular townsfolk.
These demons must be destroyed, and the lucky Meiks family has
been chosen for the gruesome duty. Night night sleep well....kisses.
Fenton
( The younger played by Matt O'Leary) thinks his father has popped
a gasket and may need a mental facility--pronto. Dad is talking
about killing people after all. Younger lamb eyed Adam
(played by lamb eyed Jeremy Sumpter) agrees with his father and
thinks the lord's work is their duty. Demons are bad and the family
is now kind of super hero's for the lord. They are God's hands
at work.
Super
creepy or what?
You
know this handsome Texan Bill Paxton from his big-box-office films
like Aliens or Twister. I happen to know another Billy...may I
share? I hunt down things with his name (as should you). Find
A Simple Plan or Boxing Helena and you'll get the gist of what
I mean. Paxton's simple plan to sign on to diversified films has
lead him to be a titanicly creepy edged celluloid traveller, who
is known for picking far from brain dead scripts. Sometimes these
titanic choices get the guy back to back hits and sometimes near
dark reviews fitting a mortuary. But his impulse is good, and
he seems to have figured out the weird science of Hollywood films.
He's also tall, yummy and speaks with that drawl that makes a
girl want to play cowboy!
 Speaking
of Texans you'd sport western wear for…Matthew McCoughsittinonyerkneey
is simply a visual sensation! Sure, the guy can act, but face
it, he's as delicious as a country pine table spread with all
them fancy BBQ fixin's oozing sauces and calories you know aint
gonna help your waist none, but it's just too irresistible to
deny! Yum-o-rama!
It's
actually a big old Texan Quadrophenia as the screenwriter
Brent Hanley and Powers Booth are Texan as well. Goshola, Texas
sure knows how to breed them some fellas!
A Quick Blunt Aside:The story is based in Texas but shot in California--gotta
love film tricks!
The boys playing the Meiks children, Jeremy Sumpter and Matt O'Leary,
have to play a couple of strange rangers themselves and are smooth
and incredibly eerie! Their performances were so very important
to the fear factor manipulated by Mr. Paxton and they delivered
like seasoned pros. Matt's in Domestic Disturbance
with that stud muffin mansteak Vince Vaughn
too.
Director
Paxton manages to keep that old-time art of suspenseful filmmaking
in the forefront. With the help of a brilliant script, wonderfully
talented cast he's created a Nuevo-classic horror film that's
completely enthralling. Get out and see this! I'm warnin' ya'all
your heart will be in your throat and your fingernails embedded
firmly in the theater's chair. Enjoy!
Snack
Recommendation: Texas toast, smokin' hot chili, a bog old
heap of slow cooked ribs, a six-o- Shiner Bocks and a bucket of
Stubb's BBQ Moppin Sauce. Be sure to have the Vaughan Bros. or
Dale Watson playing softly in the background y'all! BUY
IT
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