REMINDER: These reviews will be brief, as there are 31 in total to write this month. The purpose is to give a few brief thoughts about each film and consequently open the door to discussion.
Book ended by present day and told in it's entirety as a flashback, Frailty is the story of a small family in a small Texas town. First time director, Bill Paxton does an adequate job behind the camera. This film really does not call for more than that. What Frailty is really all about is the the story; and what a story the viewer is given. The narrative brings us the story of a father and his two young sons. Essentially, one day dad announces to his boys that he has been blessed by God with the ability to see demons. It seems these demons walk the Earth shrouded in the human form ready to do terrible things at a moments notice. Not only has Mr. Meeks been gifted with this sixth sense of sorts; but God has also entrusted him with capturing and killing said demons. Quite a calling, and the reason the authorities have dubbed this serial killer: The God's Hand Killer. The main thrust of the story comes when Mr. Meeks enlists the help of his two young boys in the new family business. Frailty in and of itself is about much more than just these terrible actions. It's about the destruction of the family dynamic. The devotion of children to their parents. The question of whether or not Mr. Meeks is mentally ill, or celestially gifted. I must admit to not being a huge fan of this film initially. However, upon rewatching it and knowing what course the narrative would take, I quite enjoyed Frailty this time around. The acting is solid, the script (as I stated before) very intensely woven, and the sympathy you feel for these boys is genuinely heartbreaking.
Frailty
2002
Director: Bill Paxton
Starring: Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey
7/10 Farmhouses ~ Chris Conduit
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