Plot
A man confesses to an FBI agent his family's story of how his religious fanatic father's visions lead to a series of murders to destroy supposed "demons."
Release Year: 2001
Rating: 7.3/10 (34,231 voted)
Critic's Score: 64/100
Director:
Bill Paxton
Stars: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe
Storyline FBI agent Wesley Doyle is startled by the spontaneous declaration of youngster Fenton Meiks about how his father's delusions to have a divine mission as avenging angel required him and his brother Adam to become his 'demon-slaying' murder accomplices. And how hard an dangerously revolting proved. But when Doyle accepts to be shown concealed victim graves, the plot twists in the present just as gruesomely.
Cast: Bill Paxton
-
Dad Meiks
Matthew McConaughey
-
Fenton Meiks
Powers Boothe
-
FBI Agent Wesley Doyle
Matt O'Leary
-
Young Fenton
Jeremy Sumpter
-
Young Adam
Luke Askew
-
Sheriff Smalls
Levi Kreis
-
Fenton Meiks
Derk Cheetwood
-
Agent Griffin Hull
Melissa Lahlitah Crider
-
Becky Meiks
(as Melissa Crider)
Alan Davidson
-
Brad White
Cynthia Ettinger
-
Cynthia Harbridge
Vincent Chase
-
Edward March
Gwen McGee
-
Operator
Edmond Scott Ratliff
-
The Angel
Rebecca Tilney
-
Teacher
Taglines:
Only The Innocent Survive
Release Date: 12 April 2002
Filming Locations: Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens - 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $11,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $4,208,655
(USA)
(14 April 2002)
(1497 Screens)
Gross: $13,103,828
(USA)
(9 June 2002)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Bill Paxton mentions in the director commentary at 54:19 "We couldn't really dig it [the hole] that deep .. unless it's reinforced, so actually in this shot [54:31] I'm on my knees and kind of making it look like I'm standing up to make the hole look deeper and of course there's a little mound there [at the lip of the hole]."
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
The flashbacks take place in summer, but were filmed in November; the actors' cold breath is visible, most notably when the trio bring Cynthia (first demon) into the shed and turn on the light.
Quotes: Fenton:
Nothing that crazy could be real.
User Review
A very disturbing movie
Rating: 9/10
This is a very dark and intriguing horror type thriller based on the
idea of religious murders. The storyline centres on a deranged man who
lives in Texas, US who suddenly goes on a killing spree with his two
young sons after being instructed by God to redeem the world of bad
people.
Bill Paxton who directs this movie plays the deranged Father who is
known as the Hand of God Killer while Matthew McConaughey plays his
finest performances to date as the oldest son, Fenton Meiks. The film
revolves around Fenton who decides he can no longer hold the burden of
his murderous childhood alone and uses flashbacks to hauntingly tell
the story to FBI Agent Wesley Doyle (played by Powers Boothe).
I cannot think of many movies that literally keep the viewer chained to
their seat from start to finish and this is definitely one of them.
Even if you want to stop watching, you wont be able to because of the
sheer power of this movie.
The directors have filmed this movie very well, and they help to set
the plot through the good scenery. The acting in this movie is great
but if there is any drawback it is that some parts are very powerful
and may disturb some people.
Whilst the concept of this film is very dark, the young children help
to portray the idea through brilliant acting. This really is a spine
tingly movie and it is guaranteed to have you at the edge of your seat
throughout. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys
horror, disturbing and powerful movies or anyone who just wants to see
something different.
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