Frailty

In light of recent events, the subject of religious fanaticism has once again become a hot debate. Where does one draw the line between faith and humanity? In Frailty, the creepy directorial debut from actor Bill Paxton, this question is explored by delving inside the head of a serial killer. Or is he a servant of God? These are just a few of the intriguing ideas explored throughout this old fashioned spookfest, a thriller that shocks and frightens by making us imagine what we can't see on the screen.

The movie opens with a man named Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) walking into the Dallas F.B.I. headquarters and stating that he knows who has been committing a series of unsolved serial killings known as the God's Hand Murders. The agent in charge, Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe) is reluctant at first to believe him, but agrees to listen to his story. Thus begins a series of flashback's to Fenton's childhood in the small town of Thurman, Texas, which make up the bulk of the film.

We soon learn that Fenton as an adolescent (played by Matthew O'Leary) is just like any other boy his age. He has a loving hard working father (Paxton) and a younger innocent brother Adam (Jeremy Sumpter.) But all that changes one night when his father wakes up the boys and tells them that God has just spoken to him, "judgment day" is coming, and he has been chosen to kill demons hidden in human form on earth. Exactly the childhood experience that keeps the therapy business thriving.

As their father becomes increasingly obsessed with his mission, Fenton begins to question his motives while the younger Adam instead becomes excited by the challenge, even going as far as to compare their family to real life superheroes. Soon their father begins bringing home bodies and the children get to see with their own eyes just how far he will go.

What is so unique about this story is the father portrayed by Paxton. Technically, he does become a killer, yet Paxton plays him with so much truthful inner pain that we start to wonder if he really is doing God's work. He isn't a bad person. He isn't some generic insane serial killer. And he is most definitely not a bad father. His love for his children is authentic, to the point of his own downfall. Paxton provides a delicate balance between the pureness of a father, and the maddening passion of his convictions.

Most people who see this film will probably be talking about some of the surprises at the end. And yes, there are twists here, some of which seem inevitable, and some of which will make your head spin trying to understand exactly what they mean. In the end, not every plot point seems to add up, and too much explaining tends to frustrate rather than enlighten, but this is not simply a film with a big gimmick. Instead, it is a quiet, haunting portrayal of the fine line between sanity and madness.

Paxton's best accomplishment as a director is to respect his audience. Compared to most of the horror films being made today, Frailty is refreshing in its restraint and patience. It deals with heavy issues, but doesn't waste time preaching. It is a film that will make you think, and in the end, what more can you ask?