Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Matt O'Leary

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."

Flixster Users

79% liked it

45,281 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

133 critics

R, 99 min.

Directed by: Bill Paxton

Release Date: April 12, 2002

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 17, 2002

Stats: 2,409 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (2,409)


  • September 2, 2008
    Who knew Bill Paxton would be such a master of horror? This movie creeps up on you and snaps without warning. The child actors are really talented and the movie is overall really eerie. This is a totally new dimension in gothic horror.
  • July 13, 2008
    One of my favourite films and one of the best film twists ever.

    A sinister tale, well written and put together well, I never tire from watching this and never fail to be impressed.

    To anyone who hasn't watched this film yet, you really should.
  • July 6, 2008
    "So Fucked Up" highlight: brother locked in self-made prison
  • May 30, 2008
    Bill Paxton's directional debut, "Frailty" is a powerful story about father-son relationship, faith, delusion and emotional abuse with disturbing yet lovely anti-Christian subtext and it's a damn shame it doesn't live up to what it promises.

    "Frailty" is a remarkable film. Ma...( read more)gnificent, really. Till the last 15 minutes when the first twist land before our eyes, causing a little bit of confusion and quickly followed by another that floors viewer on the ground, making him shake his head mutely and then mumble angrily: "Why?"

    The problem with twists is that they never lift the value of the material, and with badly putted ones, they make a viewer feel as a victim of practical joke, obviously making it something one would never want to experience again. Knowing that they are reserved for entertaining factors, not for as serious and as intelligently written script as "Frailty" is, which respects our intelligence and imagination from the very beginning, it's seems unbelieveable that Brent Hanley would've wanted this story to end as it ends, making it to be a victim of a few lousy twists that leads us to see how thought-provoking story is turned into a sheer Hollywoodesque nonsense, leaving us feel as if the author's lost touch with the original idea, which is suposedly one of being obsessed with wanting to be someone with a greater purpose than others. It's important, for the most part brilliantly exectued theme which makes the ending only more awful as if 15 minutes were written by someone else.

    Seriously, when the credits started to roll, I sighed and imagined myself a scene with some old slowly-thinking jerk at the production office sitting at the corner of his giant oak-desk, throwing the original script on Hanley's knees and saying: "Listen, kid. I like this thing, I really do, but this ending... the older kid kills the father and then we see them how they struggle with their memories some years later. No, no good. It's boring. We need something here that would spice things up a little bit. Throw in some damn FBI agent who will turn out to be the real villain and by doing that you'll make a vigilante from one of the boys or some shit like that. Come back when it's done." Didn't you had the same relevation, too?

    But enough of whinning. Paxton's direction is very competent yet low-key; being an actor, he builds each scene very carefully focusing on acting and dialogue, making his directing completely invisible. He also understands perfectly that the true treasure in the script lays in the concept the origins of the father's delusion remain unexplained, making it normal, obvious and mysterious at the same time and, in result, fascinating. Each scene has its inner strong drama that slowly builds tension which keeps us interesting without feeling that we're waiting for something to happen till it explodes in final confronation. Perfect approach.

    I don't recall in recent memory any movie which would left me as unsatisfied and in the notion of being cheated as "Frailty" did. Probably because I loved it so much to see it ending as fascinating as it started. Even though I imagine it as a picture that could've been a psychological masterpiece and think of it a deeply flawed film seeing it as it is, I admire every single inspiring and simply good element it contains.
  • February 22, 2008
    Dad: Are you afraid?
    [Fenton nods]
    Dad: Of who?
    Young Fenton: You.
    Dad: Only demons should fear me... and you're not a demon are you?


    Another good one. Will probably keep you guessing pretty much until the end, and it certainly won't fail to surprise you, story wise. The ...( read more)screenplay is very interesting, and there is noticeable effort to make it work out properly. Frailty mixes supernatural beliefs and twisted, insane states of mind, and it's enjoyable to watch how things keep balancing from one to the other as the story unfolds.

    Now for the casting.
    I'd say hit and miss. It would've probably worked out better if Paxton didn't star in it, and sticked entirely to the direction instead. Even so, he's able to do a fairly good job, for the most part of it.
    And even McConaughey wasn't that bad actually.
    It didn't make me laugh, which coming from him is always a plus. And it actually made me believe in him as an actor from time to time, which is even more praise worthy.

    So, although I think it could've been more captivating, because the basic idea really is that good, it sure is worth a shot.
    Or even two, if you end up missing the first one.
  • November 23, 2009
    If you like movies that resemble "Twilight Zone" this is for sure your type of movie. Great pace and keeps your interest throughout the whole movie. Felt sort of like a detective in trying to figure out the killer. Bill Paxton did an amazing job in this one.
  • November 23, 2009
    This is a GREAT horror film! Come on, it's got Matthew McConaughey in it. Watch this!
  • November 19, 2009
    Great religion based psychological thriller. The acting may be mediocre but the plot is intense enough to counter the performances. Don't get me wrong tho, McConaughey actually put on a pretty good show. Paxton, as usual, used his raspy voice to throw more drama into his characto...( read more)r but delivered a convincing performance as well. All around fun and one of my favorites.
  • November 16, 2009
    I LOVE this movie. It blows my mind that Bill Paxton directed it. It is so sick and twisted that you cannot turn away from it. To those who have not seen it....do so!
  • November 15, 2009
    very good all around movie. made you think that Paxton's character was crazy, but not so.

Critic Reviews


April 12, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

An accomplished debut, but not an enjoyable one; the shivers it provokes are disturbing rather than delicious, and its story is unusually gruesome. full review

April 12, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

You ... get a sense of good intentions derailed by a failure to seek and strike just the right tone. full review

April 12, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An extraordinary work, concealing in its depths not only unexpected story turns but also implications, hidden at first, that make it even deeper and more sad. full review

April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Intellectually cheap: a superficial exploration of child abuse, with some X-Files atmosphere and excessive narrative complication. full review

April 11, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A meditation on faith and madness, Frailty is blood-curdling stuff. full review

View more Frailty reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • TheMrz
    June 30, 2007
    This movie was strangely alluring.
  • virgincrow
    May 22, 2007
    i had difficulty walking in my house alone in the dark for days after watching this movie...there was just something about it.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose
    The Exorcism of Emily Rose (28%)
  • Requiem
    Requiem (67%)
  • Fallen
    Fallen (67%)
  • The Usual Suspects
    The Usual Suspects (33%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Frailty : Watch Free on TV


Frailty Trivia


  • What word/name is carved into Bill Paxton's axe in the thriller, Frailty?  Answer »
  • Who were the two main actors in the movie "FRAILTY"?  Answer »
  • What's the name given to the killer in the movie "FRAILTY"?  Answer »
  • "Frailty, thy name is woman!"  Answer »

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin