Rish Outfield's reviews
Bill Paxton made his directorial debut with this film about a Texas family that is torn apart when the father (Paxton) suddenly announces to his two boys he's had a vision and must destroy demons masquerading as townspeople. Powers Boothe is being told the story (via flashbacks) by the older of the two boys, Fenton, now played by a creepy Matthew McConaghey.
I'm a big Bill Paxton fan, ever since I first saw Aliens. His performance is both understated and disturbing, very warm and believable yet scary. I think the film could be summed up that way too. It was disturbing, unpleasant . . . why am I drawn to these films?
Paxton is a loving patriarch, down-to-earth, normal; which makes it all the more shocking when he is able to kill without remorse. The audience is torn between siding with the father (he really was chosen by God to slay demons) and siding with the son (his father has lost his mind and is now a murderer). It was obviously intentional that we doubt, believe, and doubt again, and worked very well to balance the sides.
The film's low-budget and lack of special effects makes it all the more stark and realistic. Except for one ill-conceived effect (where Fenton's disembodied head falls through the frame), what they did show worked shockingly well--sometimes only music was used to create the effect of a vision, sometimes only light, sometimes just the performance of Paxton and others. The performances of the children aren't pitch-perfect, but they get better as they go along. And dude, it's hard to get kids to act well in a film like this (unless you're Stanley Kubrick, that is, and don't care what happens to the child). But the script was strong. The motivations of Fenton were layered and interesting. God is the villain, not Dad. One moment really freaked me out, I think I shrieked and twitched like a bug on a pin.
Unpleasant. Did I already say that? The surprise ending, a prerequisite nowadays and pretty much given away in the trailer (stay away, tyranist! What's the matter with you?), doesn't entirely work. What one of the main characters goes on to do makes no sense at all, especially after I think about it. Since the ending is the weakest part of the film, I was left feeling I'd seen a good film, but not a great one. And what's with the title? I just don't get it.
I'd Recommend It To: This isn't a movie I'd recommend to the casual viewer or your mother. But it was well-made, unusual, and impressive work by Paxton. Though all movies are better in the theater, this one might be more satisfying as a video rental.