Frailty (2001)

A man confesses to an FBI agent his family's story of how his religious fanatic father's visions led to a series of murders to destroy supposed "demons."

Director:

Bill Paxton

Writer:

Brent Hanley

Stars:

Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe

5 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Paxton	...	Dad Meiks
Matthew McConaughey	...	Adam 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
Missy 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

Storyline

FBI agent Wesley Doyle is startled by the èrspontaneous 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. But when Doyle accepts to be shown concealed victim graves, the plot twists in the present just as gruesomely.ya

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Plot Keywords:

demon | religious fanatic | christian horror | sin | mass murder | 

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Taglines:

No Soul Is Safe

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dämonisch

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,208,655, 14 April 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$13,103,828, 9 June 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Kirschner Productions, American Entertainment, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Fenton is digging the dungeon (from 50:18 to 51:37) his T-shirt is wrapped around his head. At 50:15 in the director commentary Bill Paxton says "These [scenes] were designed in the storyboards. It was described that he'd put his T-shirt on his head by Brent Hanley." At 50:50 in the writer commentary Brent Hanley says "I like the shirt over the head. That's actually really cool. I think Matt O'Leary did that himself." Since David Ivie drew the storyboards, the T-shirt on the head might even have been David's idea.

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Goofs

At 4:21 when Doyle looks at the board, under the red picture the lower right photograph depicts a woman, her arms hanging out to the right edge of the picture. Before and after the shot, this photograph is a row down.

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Quotes

[Dad comes home and shows Young Fenton and Young Adam their first Demon out in the shed, Cynthia Harbridge]
Young Adam: Dad?
Dad: Come on out here, Adam.
[turns to Fenton]
Dad: Shine that light over here.
Young Adam: Hey dad, who is that?
Dad: That's a demon, son. Come on in here, boys, it's all right. Come on, don't be afraid.
[closes them in the shed as the boys stare, frightened and stunned]
Adam Meiks: [voice-over of Dad going to find the first demon] God had come to Dad earlier that day and told him that the time had come. After work he drove ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Directors Sam Raimi, Ivan Reitman and James Cameron, among others, are thanked at the end of the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in High Chaparall: Robert Englund (2004)

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Soundtracks

A Real Country Song
Performed by Dale Watson
Written by Dale Watson
Courtesy of Hightone Records
Published by Bug Music o/b/o Watson Texas Music (BMI), and Songs of Windswept Pacific
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Astounding

I first saw the trailer for Frailty on Yahoo Movies way back in the day, after hearing Stephen King praise it to high heaven. Not really a fan of either star, I still wanted to see it because I'm a huge thriller fan.

I was not disappointed. The acting was superb, especially from the two young boys. Usually I loathe child actors, but Young Adam and Young Fenton were excellent. Bill Paxton really did a good job of directing it too. It was beautifully shot.

One must also note the plot twists. The three twists at the end hit hard and fast, and I didn't see them coming. The final twist of the film, coupled with the gravity of what had just been revealed, gives me chills to this day, even though I've re-watched the film so many times.

A true gem.