Frailty (2001)

Directed by Bill Paxton. Starring Bill Paxton, Matt O’Leary, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Jeremy Sumpter, Luke Askew, Derk Cheetwood, Levi Kreis. [R]

A tormented young man (McConaughey) confesses to FBI agent Boothe his belief that the serial murderer known as the “God’s Hand Killer” is his brother, a recent suicide victim; Boothe is doubtful, of course, but then the young man starts telling the story of his childhood with his sincere, loving, but deeply disturbed father (Paxton) who believed that God chose him to kill “demons” on Earth that look like ordinary people. Moody, unsettling look at faith, fanaticism, guilt, family sins, and powerlessness, a bold venture for first-time director Paxton, who treats the potentially sensationalized “Longhorn Gothic” material with somber significance. The visual schemes tend to be imitative, even uninspired, but Paxton’s confidence carries it through, and he’s able to cajole credible performances from the cast in mostly tricky roles (starting with his own, a man possessed). Comes close to self-destructing in the final act, with a twist ending that degrades much of the film’s chilling power up to that point—and nearly nullifies its grim message about human nature—but is nevertheless an effectively provocative psychological horror film.

76/100