Frayed (2007)

Directors:

Norbert Caoili
Rob Portmann

Writers:

Kurt Svennungsen (writer) &
Norbert Caoili (writer) ...

Release Date:

25 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Every killer hides a dark secret

Plot:

A small town sheriff's worst nightmare comes true when his homicidal son escapes from a psychiatric hospital. An intense manhunt ensues as the dark secret behind the son's evil past becomes revealed.

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatric Hospital | Escape | Security Guard | Manhunt | Psychopath

Cast

Tony Doupe	...	Sheriff Pat Baker
Aaron Blakely	...	Gary Jordan
Alena Dashiell	...	Sara Baker
Tasha Smith-Floe	...	Veronica
Don Brady	...	Deputy Lane Denton
Kellee Bradley	...	Jolene Baker
Rachel Pate	...	Dr. Linda Engle
Tim Evans	...	Sam
Colin Byrne	...	Paul
Nick Wambach	...	Deputy Donny Parsons
Dino Moore	...	The Mask
Quinlan Corbett	...	Greg
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jin Luceno Caoili	...	Police Dispatcher / 911 Operator
Norbert Caoili	...	Medic (voice)
Jimmy Castle	...	Kurt - age 8
Justin Dadural	...	Orderly
Wayne Denton	...	Deputy
Jim Engle	...	Deputy
Kathy Hsieh	...	Nurse Gable
Michael Manio	...	Hospital Patient
Jeanette Maus	...	Kurt's mother
Rob Portmann	...	Medic (voice)
Kurt Svennungsen	...	Medic (voice)
Adam Twersky	...	Police Officer

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Bothell, Washington, USA

Company:

Lock It In Entertainment

Soundtrack:

Driving Me Crazy

Enjoyable, Yet Still Confusing and Derivative

A sheriff's wife is murdered by his young son. Years later, that son escapes from a mental institution and goes berserk, beginning a killing spree of those who cross his path, including the family who left him behind.

There are many good aspects and many bad aspects to this film. Let's start with the good. The film quality was excellent, and I felt everything was put together very professionally, especially for a cast and crew of unknowns. This certainly has the ability to cut it as an After Dark Horrorfest film. The gore was also nicely done, with the mother's early murder being much more graphic than I expected.

But let's focus on the bad now... the things that are going to eat at me every time I think about this film. Some of these were summed up by other reviewers, so I'm glad they noticed the same things I did. First and foremost, the similarities between this film and "Halloween" and "High Tension". Especially "Halloween": a killer child who escapes from a mental institute to go after his now much older sister? Hmmmm...

The over-use of the clip showing Kurt looking at the softball photo. I understand that this plays an important part later on, but I didn't need to see it five or six times to grasp the concept. And the mask that seems like it was borrowed from the band Slipknot. Many horror movies use masks, but this was the first that made me think of Slipknot, so I have to think it wasn't an accident.

Beyond that, the plot is largely nonsense. The film has twists and turns, which is good, but probably has too many. I was particularly bothered by what seemed like a few fake endings. As always, I don't want to spoil the film, but let's just say this: the writers should have picked a story and told it, not tried to have so many stories within each other like a Russian nesting doll.

As this film is still better than many I've seen, I wouldn't say you should avoid it. Grab a friend and a few bottles of Labatt Blue and this will make for a fine evening. But don't blame me if you get frustrated or confused. I warned you.