Customer Reviews

Frailty

5 star:		(142)
4 star:		(83)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

Yes! Finally, it is here on DVD! I could not wait to purchase it!

"Frailty" is a dark and terrifying film that surprised me so many times. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the next scene would prove me wrong. The complexity and creativeness that went into this film is so mind-blowing. It takes risks, and forces us to ask questions that are better left unanswered.

A series of murders has been contaminating a small town. The case is known as the "God's Hand". The movie starts with McConaughey entering the FBI station, claiming that he knows who the "God's Hand" killer is. With this, he tells his story and we witness shocking flashbacks to when he was a kid.

Paxton, who is also the director, stars as a very religious and loving father. His two sons, (remember, this is all McConaughey's story, so this entire part is the flashback) mean all the world to him. Everything seems perfect, until Paxton awakes his sons, telling him that an angel visited him at night, telling him that there were demons lurking around and they took the form of human-beings. He instructs his sons that they must "destroy" them. (Meaning, "killing.") The oldest son thinks his father has lost it, but he has no idea how far things are about to go. I cannot tell you anymore, otherwise it'll ruin the movie for you. Know this, however, you will be shocked, and you will feel disturbed when it is all said and done.

Bill Paxton does an outstanding job as a first time director. This is the type of movie that really requires talent from famous and acclaimed directors, but Paxton proves to us that not only can he act, but he can direct. Every shot in the movie is very well planned and laid out. He also proves exactly what kinds of emotions he wants his actors to show us. That task, I'm sure, is not a very easy one. The acting was really impressive, and must've been quite a chore to accomplish in this type of film. It is the direction and the acting that makes this movie so unique and chilling.

Yes, this film is very disturbing and very violent. Not in graphic detail; there's hardly any blood or gore. It's just the overall idea and the way the "destruction of the demons" are presented to us. Be warned; this is not for people with weak hearts or stomaches.

This movie still shocked and frightened me, even seeing it for the second time. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I still felt very uneasy and disturbed, as if I were just experiencing it for the first time.

Now, on to the DVD. For it being an independent film, it has some pretty neat features, including commentary, a making of feature, theatrical trailer, and more. The picture and sound quality was also very good.

This movie isn't for everybody, especially if you are the really religous type who get offended easily. This movie IS NOT FOR YOU! Don't even attempt it! If you can handle dark and terrifying thrillers, than chances are you will enjoy this film. All in all, "Frailty" is gut-wrenching, dark and twisted thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. And even after it's all over, this movie will still be on your mind.

Want to try something fun? Watch this movie really LATE. Right before bedtime. See if you can get a goodnight's sleep after that.

Those who happen to catch "Frailty" in theaters will no doubt be reminded of the defense case of convicted murderer Andrea Yates, who took the life of her five young children in what was described by her lawyers and supporters as her attempt to save them from the hellfire. The case was thought-provoking, and a cause for controversy that forced the public to ask themselves, "What defines insanity, and furthermore, sanity?"

The psychological elements of "Frailty" work in very much the same manner, posing us that question in a forthright manner that is shocking, brutal, and completely immersive. It possesses a brainy, intricate plot, well-drawn character relationships, and an ending that begs its audience to begin arguing.

The movie begins with a meeting, of sorts, between FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe), and Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey), who claims to have information about the identity of the God's Hand killer, the case Doyle presides over. There are some initial revelations that are placed on the table upfront, one of which is Fenton's statement that his brother, Adam, is the killer; Doyle is disbelieving, but intrigued enough to listen to what Fenton has to say.

Fenton jumps back in time to his childhood, revealing the relationship between he, Adam, and their father, played by Bill Paxton who is known throughout the film as "Dad." We see them as a family, tightly knit as a result of their mother's death, made stronger by their dependence on one another. The film makes it clear that Paxton's character is a devoted father, loving of his children, and willing to do anything to protect them. His children, in turn, mirror these qualities.

One night, things change. The father wakes his children up in the middle of the night to tell them of a vision from an angel, who spoke to him about his role as God's servant in destroying demons who walk the earth in human form. He claims that when he places his hands upon the person, he can reveal them for who they really are. He further informs them that he will be receiving weapons and a list of those to be destroyed. In any other movie, the father would be an abusive wretch bent on exacting bloody justice; the fact that he is a loving and caring father makes this new development all the more unsettling.

The younger, impressionable son, Adam, willingly accepts his father's statement (in one moment, he asks his father, "Are we going to be superheroes?"). Fenton, on the other hand, believes it is all a bad dream, until his father brings home a young woman in the middle of the night, carries her into their shed, and takes an axe to her. Such scenes are handled exquisitely, choosing to keep the gore almost non-existent, thereby increasing the shock factor. The presence of the children in the midst of such violence is brutal, a testament to the film's honest approach.

The way in which Paxton carries out these events, both as an actor and as a director, is spellbinding. In front of the camera, he portrays the father with a believable conviction of his faith, matching the religious fanaticism and lunacy of Piper Laurie's Mrs. White in "Carrie." In the director's chair, he handles the material nicely, balancing the supreme chills with the ongoing argument of divine intervention that remains intact and fruitful. The two story lines, past and present, weave into one another fluidly without losing interest, and McConaughey provides his character with a tidal wave of mystery that keeps us waiting for the final resolution.

Without revealing the major twists, the film's ending is that rare gem that works with and against it. There are revelations aplenty, those that work, and those that do and don't simultaneously. The negation of the film's earlier neutrality in concern to the father's carryings-on is slightly disappointing; this choosing of sides and a murky role reversal don't altogether work in the material's favor, but they do, however, provide a nice surprise twist that casts predictability and convention into the wind.

And even now, thinking about the ending, I'm reminded of how the film challenged me to think, of how it worked me in ways many other films fail to. Bill Paxton's career as an actor shines here, and his start as a director is promising. "Frailty" is a special film, a thoughtful, quiet thriller with enough brains, realistic chills, and effective energy to make up for its few, easily forgiveable flaws.

This film is a great respite from the usual characature of the insane axe-wielding human (in this case The God's Hand Serial Killer)and takes us through a more spiritual journey.

After being visited by an angel and given three special weapons by God, himself - Bill Paxton and his two sons are drafted in God's Army. Bill has been given a list of "demons" by an angel and instructed to destroy them, with explicit details on how to accomplish the destroying and burying of the corpses. A waitress, a young man, and an elderly gentleman are just a couple of the demons on the list.

One by one, Bill lays his bare hands on the demons/people before chopping them up with an axe named Otis, and he can "SEE" what evil they have done. Or so he says...

This film has lots of surprises, twists and turns, a ton of biblical prophesying along with the psychological/brainwashing aspects of the story. PLUS - Of course a GREAT ENDING!

Bill Paxton directed this sleeper and the two boys that play the younger, Fenton & Adam are great little actors. A nice bit part by Powers Boothe also... The DVD has lots of extras including some great deleted scenes. Highly recommended!

Frailty is the first movie that I've seen since Seven that I've left the movie theatre with a deeply affected air. This movie is not a traditional screamer that freaks you out. It is more in the vein of a Poe short story or even one of King's darkest novels. It follows the story of Finton Meeks a man who apparently knows who the hand of god killer is and wants to tell a Sheriff at the F.B.I. headquarters in Dallas, Texas. As he unfolds his story it becomes more apparent that he is telling the truth but also that he is hiding something. The ending is absolutely brilliant. This movie is so good that it will actually blur the lines between good and evil and what is real and unreal. All the actors gave great performances especially the boy who played Finton Meeks as a young person. Also Bill Paxton did an excellent job with directing the film. This is a classic horror movie that is on the same level as "The Shining" and "Pet Semetary." This movie is not recommended to those who can not stand disturbing movies with Religious themes. But it's a great horror film that is reccommended to all other adults.

When was the last time you went to see a movie that made you think, one that stayed with you after you left the theater? Well, Bill Paxton's FRAILTY is such a film and if you like thrillers that are weightier than your average Hollywood fare, there's a lot to recommend it besides its depth of thought.

FRAILTY is a movie about a serial killer (God's Hands) and a man (played by Matthew McConaughy) who claims to know the killer's true identity. Most of the film is told in flashbacks while McConaughy tells his story to FBI Agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe), recalling how his father (Bill Paxton) indoctrinated his brother and himself into his bizarre beliefs.

One of the things that first time director Paxton does brilliantly in this film is that he is very careful about the way he depicts violence. There are more than enough opportunities to send even the sturdiest filmgoer screaming from the theater in disgust, but Paxton downplays the visual side of the violence in all but a couple of instances, focusing instead on the reactions of the characters to the murders. Paxton chooses not to go for the cheap "gross-out", opting instead to disturb us on a far more subtle level.

And, to talk about the subtleties of the film, you have to deal with the performances. Paxton, McConaughy and Boothe may be the "stars" of the film, but the film's best (and most disturbing) performances come from the kids. Paxton manages to coax performances from child actors Matthew O'Leary and Jeremy Sumpter that are not only heart-wrenching, but totally believable, a job that is worthy of praise from any director. The boys' characters never seem forced and their reactions to the horrors they are presented with are very different...and very telling.

Another of the "firsts" in this film, aside from Paxton's directorial debut, is a screenplay from Brent Hanley, who gives us a screenplay with as many twists and turns as a good Texas back-country road, which also happens to be where Hanley sets his story. Going into the film, this was an aspect of FRAILTY that I was very interested in. Since Paxton, McConaughy and Boothe are all three Texans, I was curious as to how the Lone Star state would be depicted. Later I was disappointed to find out that the entire movie was shot on location in California, but many of the scenes in the movie look a lot like what you might really find in Texas. If you were to squint really hard, that is.

But when all is said and done, what matters most is that FRAILTY leaves you thinking about some important questions and the fact that it doesn't give any easy answers. In fact, some of the questions are deliberately (or so I suppose) left hanging, making this a film that will stick with audiences a long time after the lights have come up.

First things first- Frailty is possibly one of the worst names in Movie history. God's Hand would have been a MUCH better name, but I suspect that fear of the Religious-Right might have something to do with that. Oh well...

To tell much about the plot of Frailty would be dangerous, as the Film packs some nifty surprises into it's storyline...

From there, the story unfolds in flashbacks, as we see McConaughey and his brother as children, raised by their Dad (Their Mother died in childbirth), a hard-working auto-mechanic. Everything is great, until one day, Dad has a vision. An Angel appears, telling him that he and his boys have been chosen to be "God's Hands on Earth", killing Demons disguised as Humans. God will send them 3 weapons, and lists of the Demon's names. Soon, Dad and his boys are doing God's work, with lead pipes, axes, etc. I'll stop here, because after the set-up, the film goes off into some surprising and thought-provoking territory.

Bill Paxton is great as the Dad (He directed as well, and did a superb job!), and the two young actors who play the children were amazing. So much of the film revolves around them, and none of it would have been believeable with your typical Hollywood Moppets in the roles. Great casting. Squeamish moviegoesr shouldn't be put off by the axe-murder premise; Everything happens off-screen. Frailty is more of a psychological-thriller than a "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"-style gorefest. I saw the movie hours ago, and I'm still running over it in my mind. You'll leave the theater with a lot to think about, and I think that Frailty, like The Sixth Sense, needs to be seen more than once to fully appreciate the nuances of plot and direction that are hidden away during the initial viewing. A superb effort from Mr. Paxton!

This movie is the best horror I have seen so far this year, possibly in the past few years. It is a quiet film that keeps most of its blood and guts (thankfully) off-screen, leaving one's mind to fill in the awful details on its own. Still the terrible deeds and the shocking motivations of our characters are disturbing to one's very soul.
The story begins with a man (Matthew McConaughey) coming forward with unbelievable information in a very public case involving a serial killer. While the FBI agent scoffs at first, he lets the man tell his awful story.
We see how his family lived happily together despite the loss of the mother years before. Bill Paxton is a dedicated father caring for his two children who love him in return. One night, he makes a shocking revelation that he has had a vision from God commanding him to hunt down and destroy demons masquerading as people. He tells his sons they are on a great mission and they must accept it without question. It comes out of the blue, and the two boys are confused and frightened. Both love their father, but the older child Fenton cannot reconcile this 'mission' with what he knows of right and wrong.
Bill Paxton brings a strange human quality to his axe-wielding demon hunter. His character is just as tragic as he is terrible; as tortured by his older son's rejection as he is determined to carry out God's work. Paxton's portrayal is very good, bringing out a father's loving kindness as well as a killer's chilling dissociation.
Matthew O'Leary does a great job as the older boy Fenton, who is conflicted by his love for his father, and his desire to protect his younger brother Adam. His helplessnes as Dad commits murder in front of them makes the horror of this picture cut more deeply than flesh-eating zombies or action-hero vampires ever could.
Jeremy Sumpter plays the young Adam, who accepts Dad's behavior with all the power of innocence. He is almost as chilling as the father, constantly begging his brother to accept God's will even as Fenton is imprisoned in a cellar he had to dig himself.
The last player worth mentioning is Powers Boothe as the disbelieving FBI agent. He listens to this amazing story with a mixture of amusement, disbelief and horrified acceptance as the truth is finally revealed, knocking him (and the audience) for a loop.
Frailty is a familiar and uniquely American horror tale; the small-town family that seemed so normal is revealed to have a great darkness within it. This film's crowning achievement is that the evil is actually very well hidden, from both the characters onscreen and the audience. The story hides it's most interesting premise at the end of the film, rather than using it as bait to drive box-office sales.
Before you go see Resident Evil, or Blade 2; before you rent the latest teen-slasher flick studios are shoving down our throats this week, go see this film. You will actually get your money's worth, and may even go see it again.

This one has something to satisfy everyone. If you're looking for truly creepy, spooky events, you won't be dissappointed. But if you also like movies that aren't predictable and make you think, really think, about issues of faith and belief, this is also the movie for you.
While I'm not a huge fan of horror movies, this isn't really a typical horror movie -although I've heard it described as one. Instead, it has more to do with commitment to one's beliefs, even if following them means murder.
Bill Paxton is believable as a father who suddenly has a vision from God who gives him a list of demons to kill ( demons who are disguised as people living ordinary lives). When he tells his two young sons this, one of them, Fenton, is sceptical and, understandably, fears his father is going crazy. The other son is an instant believer.
From this beginning, the movie veers off in different directions, all of them fascinating. I thought could see the twists in this one coming but I was wrong. I'd say more but I think you should discover the special pleasures of this movie yourself. It isn't always an easy ride (I had to turn my face from the screen several times) but it is well worth the trip.

Frailty is...the BEST. I absolutely adore this movie. I saw this movie and I am 16...just used the kids version because I don't have an Amazon account. Anyways, this movie isn't your typical horror. it's not really scary as much as it is twisted. Matthew McConaughey plays Fenton Meiks (or is he?) who goes to the FBI,claiming he knows who the God's Hand Killer is.

The God's Hand Killer was orginally Fenton's father(Bill Paxton in flashbajcs) who claims he was visited by an angel who told him that God had chosen him and his 2 kids to be God's Hand. They would be given 3 weapons (an axe,a small pipe, and gloves) that would help them "destroy" the "demons' in the world.

Young Fenton (played brilliantly by Matt O'Leary,seen in Spy Kids 2 and Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire) doesn't believe his father at all. He says that his father isn't right in the head and he tells his little brother Adam (played by Jeremy Sumpter) that the two of them need to get away from their father for a little while. "Adam is the comic relief of the film"-Bill Paxton.

After many days of Fenton telling his dad he is crazy, his dad makes Fenton dig a huge hole in the backyard, which would serve as a dungeon for demons(and eventually Fenton's home for a week and a few days). After a week and a few days of no food, fenton tells his dad he saw God and Dad takes Fenton off to kill his first demon. They bring a "demon" back to the house and dad gives Fenton their best friend Otis(the axe...yes,it was inscribed in the axe,I'm not crazy,it's true) so he can swing it right into the guy. Fenton makes the "ultimate betrayal" and swings it right into Dad,the Demon Slayer. Bye bye,Daddy.

Adam,the younger brother who believed dad took the axe and killed the guy.

I won't say anymore because it will ruin it...but this movie is GREAT.

I happened to catch this film on the Sci-Fi Channel on cable last night, and am I ever glad that I did! This has got to be one of the best films that I have ever seen in this genre. It is a veritable masterpiece, delivering a great storyline, an amazing directorial debut by Bill Paxton, and excellent performances by the entire cast. What could be better?

The film revolves around the happy and loving Meeks family, which consists of a Texas widower (Bill Paxton) and his two boys, Fenton and Adam. All is well until late one night, when this pleasant, mild-mannered father claims to have received a visitation from an angel with a very special message for him from God. It seems that demons are among us, disguised as human beings. It appears that Dad, as well as his boys, are being given a very special mission. They are to destroy these demons. God will supply the weapons and the names of those who are to be destroyed. Dad will be able to ensure that he is destroying a demon simply by laying his hands upon the purported demon. Therein lies the tale, and it is a positively chilling one.

This living nightmare is recalled in flashback by one of the now grown boys (Mathew McConaughey) to FBI Agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe), who is investigating a series of killings referred to as the "God's Hand" murders. He recounts what life was like for the Meeks family after dear old Dad got his divine calling and woke them up one night from a sound sleep to tell them of his new found mission. The boys are sworn to secrecy and are called upon to assist with this divine calling. While the younger boy, Adam, gets with the program, the older son, Fenton, is clearly disturbed by what he sees as the psychotic transformation of his formerly benign father. He is only hoping that things will blow over, and Dad will return to normal. Unfortunately, things will never again be the same.

Bill Paxton's directorial debut may best be described as stunningly self-assured. His direction is deft, yet restrained, as he is obviously someone who knows that less is more. He certainly realizes that what passes through the viewer's imagination can often be far more terrifying than any garish special effects. Consequently, this is not a film for those who look for mindless blood splatter and gore, as there is virtually none of that in this film. The camera rightly turns away at the crucial moment, leaving the viewer's imagination to work overtime.

The performances that are exacted from the cast are uniformly terrific, but there are two that merit special note. Bill Paxton is simply astounding, giving a bravura performance that is complex and compelling. The viewer believes all along that he is truly a loving father, even when he is seemingly at his most psychotic and on his divine mission destroying demons. Matt O'Leary also gives a singular performance as young Fenton, the son who has difficulty accepting the tune that his beloved father is now singing. His is an angst filled performance that will tear at the viewer's heart.

This is truly a terrific tale of gothic horror and one that deserves to become a classic. It boasts an intelligent and clever screenplay by Brent Hanley with enough twists and turns to keep the viewer guessing until the very end. It is a screenplay that has many layers of complexity. The question for the viewer is whether or not Dad was simply a delusional psychotic killer or truly acting upon a divine mission. This may not be as easy to answer as one may think.

All in all, this is a superlative film that is worthy of being in one's personal collection. Bravo!