Frailty (2002)
Frailty
2002, R, 100 minutes
Frailty comes off as an authentic, good old-fashioned horror film - the kind Hollywood hasn't produced for years - and to be honest, we could use more of them. It has everything a spooky thriller of its kind requires: mystery, bloodshed, genuine thrills and moments of suspense, and finally a great double-punch of a twist at the very end.
Impressively directed by Bill Paxton, who also co-stars along with Matthew McConaughey, this film seems vaguely familiar in a good, comforting sort of way, but also tells a very unique and intelligent story. As a self-described agnostic, I see myself as the ideal middle-grounder for judging a piece of work that embraces religion and/or the supernatural; I am not closed off to the idea (unlike an atheist) and therefore can take an unbiased view, while at the same time I stand ready to criticize when a film begins to preach or turns into a piece of religious propaganda. Frailty's entire premise is centered around God, angels and religion, and it works because the story never forces us to agree with its principles or beliefs, and even questions their validity. In the end, all that really matters is what the characters believe, not us.
In addition to his sure-handed and surprisingly mature direction, Bill Paxton turns in yet another wonderful performance - causing me to once again question why this guy doesn't receive the credit or recognition he deserves. Playing a man who is sent on a mission by God to destroy demons on Earth (disguised as regular people), Paxton immerses himself into the character completely. As we watch the story progress, there's never a single moment in which we suspect he isn't being sincere, and for this reason the supernatural elements don't make the film corny or unbelievable. Matthew McConaughey is also quite good as his son (many years later) who tells the story to an FBI agent, and the subtle manner he uses to approach the role contributes a lot of mystery to the film. We never really trust him completely, but because he's the narrator we are to some extent forced to take his words at face value.
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So long as you have no problem accepting the basic premise, Frailty is an extremely rewarding and very clever film, with some truly haunting moments. It carefully dances along the fine-line between insanity and the perceived truth, both in the story itself and the way it is presented. While you might see one of the two big twists coming, it is highly unlikely that any uninformed viewer will guess both. The conclusion is bound to not settle right with some people, particularly cynics, but it certainly worked for me and I highly recommend it.
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