Customer Reviews

Skeletons in the Closet [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This movie was fabulous! It was thrilling and constanly had you asking: What is really going on here? If you like a puzzle you will like this movie. Jonathon Jackson is better then he has ever been and Treat Williams and Linda Hamilton are great as well. To anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a twist you will enjoy this!

I've seen the initial DVD of this film, which was featured at the Nodance Film Festival. Great scenery, tightly written and edited, great cast. The cast has someone for everyone--Treat Williams & Linda Hamilton for the post-teen audience, Jonathan Jackson and Schuyler Fisk for the young lovers. Although it has some action scenes, it's pull is the uncertainty--who's the bad guy here? Who killed whom? Who's playing the head games? And why? In the end it's all about a family that strugles with family secrets--like murder! Don't miss the opening scene.

A man fears his son is a serial killer; the son plays on this and torments his father; is he the culprit or is it the father? That is the premise in this low-key, yet tense and enthralling psychological drama. The answer is rather predictable, but thanks to the intense performances by Treat Williams, Linda Hamilton and Jonathan Jackson, the movie grabs you and doesn't let up until it's last mesmerizing scene. Williams has aged nicely, maintaining that handsome leading man quality, but has gone a little pudgy and hangs on to that guy next door persona. Hamilton, looking a little tired and older,nonetheless conveys a quiet sexuality and seems to enjoy her character; Jackson switches from smart-mouthed brat to the abused victim rather effectively. The direction is terse and not ostentatious, Powers letting the story tell itself.
A tight little overlooked film.

This little psych-thriller had some meat to it, but the cast is what made it. Treat Williams, Linda Hamilton, and Jonathan Jackson were excellent, and I found myself quite absorbed by the mindgames that seemed to be going on between the father, and son, not to mention the uncertainty that they provoked in Hamilton's character.

It was fun , and I'll see it again.

Beautifully shot and well acted on every level. I'm trying to remember, but I think when Wayne introduced the film at Nodance (in the Main St. Mall, Park City, UT), I thought he said it was shot on Hi-Def... I can't remember. Anyways, the plot is sometimes cliche-riding, but it's still a wonderful and sorta disturbing ride. Nice, nice stuff. Kinda like an audience-friendly Lynch rendition of a back-stabbing, twisted family noir made for tv. Still, it's darn good.

Well, I saw this because it has Jonathan Jackson in it and I find him to be a wonderful actor. However, I was expecting it to be a bit, well, lame. Not to knock but I guess I somehow formed a negative overall attitude. Then I watched it. And I was suprised. I will say that I thought Treat's expression in the first scene was a bit annoying, not very believable, but after that the movie really picked up. It really isn't so much of a thriller as a movie about a troubled family. JJ does an AMAZING job of portraying a troubled teen. I was stunned by his performance. The very last scence, well second to last (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about) blew me away. JJ floored me. I was stunned by his performance in that scene as well as the movie on a whole. I recommend this. It isn't the best movie in the world but I was impressed. VERY impressed with JJ. Give it a shot.

I think that this is one of the best thillers ever made. Jonathan Jackson is AMAZING! His character touched me, I wasn't angery with him. He was hurting, and I think that Jonathan Jackson showed the emotion better than anyone else could've done. It takes real talent to be able to pull that role off. The story line kept me on the edge of my seat and yet wasn't a freak movie that is too much. This is one to buy!!!

This is a genuinely good idea for a movie, but it didn't quite have the elegance needed for a theatrical release. It viewed more like a made for TV movie.

Here's the scoop. Treat Williams suspects his unbalanced son might be responsible for several murders. Son is unbalanced due to the loss of his mother in a house fire when he was 6 years old. But the story goes deeper and the son might be unbalanced due to other reasons while dad might play a bigger part in this than is immediately apparent.

The script is quite good. There are several factors at play and a good job is done juggling them and introducing them at key times to keep things interesting. It really had me going well into the third act. Treat Williams is a veteran actor and delivers his lines well. Johnathan Jackson, as his son Seth, is really good. He's a real wiener early on and gives you the creeps. As much as he does to make the viewer dislike him, there is that shadow of a doubt concerning his guilt. Linda Hamilton does what she can, but her part isn't written all that well.

This is a good, solid piece. The New Hampshire locations are used well. All the production values are decent. Again, it just needed that certain something to make it rise above a made for TV movie. It's more three and a half stars as opposed to the three I gave it but it's a worth while view if you like mystery thrillers.

This movie will keep you guessing the entire time. You'll wonder who you can trust and who is telling the truth. Jonathan Jackson is absolutely brilliant as troubled teen Seth, played with just the right amount of sympathy and craziness. Treat Williams is wonderful as Seth's father Will, who has you wondering what he has been hiding all of these years. This film was a lowbudget film that shot for about 1 million dollars. That's how much Britney Spears spends on one 3 minute music video. With the limitations and short 19 day filming schedule, this movie represents a serious issue and its consequences (can't say what it is or it would give away the movie). The acting in this movie is top notch and you will be entertained the entire time. This is a definite must see, and while you're watching consider for a moment the amount of work that went into it, the limitations of budget and time, and you will truly walk away with an appreciation of filmmaking.

Skeletons In The Closet was a really cool movie! I recently added this DVD to my own collection, and I'm glad I did! It may not have been the greatest phsychological thriller in the world, but it was definately worth watching. I was very impressed with Jonathan Jackson's performace as Will Reid's (Treat Williams) 18-year old son with some deep, emotional problems. Williams was great as Jackson's paranoid father who undoubtedly has some issues of his own. Linda Hamilton was O.K. with the part she was given, even though her role could have been completely omitted from the script and not have changed the movie one bit. This movie is definately worth watching!