Serial killer movies tend to be dull and disappointing, as was the case with films such as "The Bone Collector" and "Switchback".  Of course, there are bright spots like "Seven", "Silence of the Lambs", and the highly underrated "Copycat".  You can add "Frailty" to that list of bright spots--hell, you can just about put it at the top of the list.

 

      "Frailty" is one of the creepiest, most disturbing psychological thrillers I have ever seen, an assault on the senses that leaves you breathless until the very end.  The film begins with FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe) being visited by one of the Miek Brothers, who claims to know who the God's Hand killer is--he claims it's his own brother.  He then begins to tell the agent the tale as to how he knows the identity of the killer.  It all goes back to when his dad (Paxton) received a vision from God, in which God told him to destroy seven people who are actually demons.  Paxton believes in the vision and starts bringing back victims to his house where, in front of both his sons, he proceeds to read their sins and hack them up with an axe. 

 

      The ending of the film is completely expected in some ways, but completely unexpected in others.  But, the real excitement in this film comes from a mesmerizing performance from Paxton, who is one minutes telling his kids to eat their lima beans, and the next telling them to help him carry a dead body.  The creepiest scenes are when Paxton commits the murders in front of his kids, trying his best to show them that what he is doing is God's will.

 

      This film wasn't as scary as it was creepy.  Paxton is always unnerving as a man who completely believes that what he is doing is right.  Matthew McConaughey is believable and equally creepy as one of the adult Miek Brothers.  And, young Matt O'Leary does surprisingly well as the oldest son who doesn't believe in what his father is doing.  Each performance in this film is top notch.

 

      This film was released by Lions Gate Entertainment, who reportedly spent 30 million on the flick, the most money it has ever shelled out for a single film.  The release of the film was also delayed several months for unknown reasons, though I don't know why.  I have yet to read a single negative review of this film, as most critics are declaring this one of the best pictures of the year.  You can add me to that last.  Along with "We Were Soldiers", this is tops in my book thus far.  I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be, but I watched in sheer horror as a seemingly normal Christian man was transformed into a demon destroying brute.  Paxton certainly deserves an Oscar nod, though I doubt this film will be remembered come Oscar time, which is a shame to let such a gem go to waste.  This is a MUST see for anyone wanting pure, quality suspense and entertainment.  Despite what the title might suggest, there is nothing 'frail' about this psychotic masterpiece.

 

      Mike ( 3 1/2 out of 4 pops )

      "Frailty" is a very good and different type of movie about serial killers.  I'm sitting there watching the story unfold and then bam, the last twenty minutes have twists upon twists which raised several questions in my mind on what really happened.  Things that were said ended up conflicting with scenes that were shown, which causes the viewer to really think about what just happened.  Bill Paxton makes a most impressive debut with his directing and the cinematography (by the same guy who shot ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest") is gritty and dark.  The movie is not so much scary as very creepy and disturbing, although it has several very suspenseful scenes.  I also commend Paxton on keeping most of the violence off-screen where it plays on our imagination and makes the film even more creepy than showing the violent, bloody actions as most Hollywood films do.  Now, I gotta go figure out what scenes were real and which ones were not, and who actually did what.  I haven't had to think this much with a film since "Mulholland Drive".

      Patsy ( 2 out of 4 pops )

      What is it that everyone likes about this movie?!  I don't understand.  Sure it's an interesting story-- it might have made a good short story or good episode of CSI or the like-- but I don't think it was a good feature film.  First of all, I didn't think the movie was that scary.  There were only one or two scenes that creeped me out and I only jumped once.  I'll admit that the movie really made me think-- were these people crazy or were they really seeing demons??  But whatever, I was looking forward to a good scary thriller and all I got was a numb butt.  If you want to see a thriller that actually thrills, skip this and see "Murder By Numbers", at least you'll get a little more suspense.

      James ( 4 out of 4 pops )

      WARNING: SPOILER..... The best way to describe this movie is in the words of Tracy Morgan's Brian Fellow, "That is crazy!" Yes, basically this is a movie about a father who corrupts the minds of his two sons, Fenton and Adam. If you don't want the movie to be spoiled, then do not read any further. He tells them the hokey-est of all stories of how they are "demon destroyers". The older son, who can think for himself refuses to believe his father, but Adam is totally brainwashed and truly believes he is seeing demons. God tells Bill Paxton's character that his son Fenton is one of the demons. How can that be that a 12 year old could be evil? All the rest of the people had done something terribly wrong like molest children, but what did Fenton do? Anyway, he can't kill his son, and that is fatal flaw, but guess who can? His younger brother Adam. Adam waits til the very end to destroy his brother, because he loved him so much, that he wanted his brother to still have a life. I don't think that this movie is confusing at all; it's a well made, told, and a downright great story.