As Good as Dead

what it seems type of movies. I thought this movie was pretty good. It had suspense, torture, and of course a twist. It's about a woman, Helen, whose religious leader husband was killed years earlier. She has hired a sort of mercenary to track down those involved with the murder and her being set on fire. The mercenary believes he has found one of those involved, photographer, Ethan. So, he tortures Ethan in trying to get him to confess. All the while, Helen and her son whom survived the attack watch. Ethan professes his innocence and says he has proof. But, the question is will Helen or the mercenary believe him? Ethan's wife and daughter also become involved.

FINAL VERDICT: Suspenseful and twisted. Worth a viewing.

It's nice to see Frank Whaley in this one. If you only know him from the Kevin Spacey movie (Swimming with Sharks), you might be in for a surprise. He is really versatile, a great actor. While Cary Elwes is the protagonist, Frank kinda steals the show. Not that Cary isn't "good" in this, it's just the Frank show.

I don't tend to write anything about the story or the plot, because I don't want to spoil anything and in this case here, writing a little bit about it, would spoil quite a bit about the movie. What I can and will say though is, that contrary to another reviewer here, I didn't like the opening scene. Not because of the actors, but it just didn't feel right. It's a scene, you have seen quite a few times done before and even Brian Cox, an amazing actor, can't help it. The scene just doesn't work for me. But of course, it's a pivotal scene to the movie.

In hindsight, there are many things that work quite nice and don't fall apart, if you know what the movie is all about. The problem is, you might kinda feel where this is going. Especially if you've seen a few movies, that deal with similar issues.

Jonathan Mossek's direction in 'As Good as Dead' is a testament to his skill at crafting tension and psychological depth. In addition to exemplary casting and writing, Mossek orchestrates an ensemble led by the amazing talents of Andie MacDowell and Brian Cox. The film unfolds as a murder mystery in reverse, blending elements of horror and psycho-thriller seamlessly. Frank Whaley's portrayal as a truly menacing character adds a chilling layer, showcasing his versatility in a role unlike any I've seen him in before.

Mossek's direction not only delivers good performances but also touches on issues relevant to our society presently, making the film quite thought-provoking, gripping, and tense. As the plot unfolds, the movie keeps you guessing till the end. It blurs the lines of who the true protagonists are, adding an intriguing twist to the genre. Overall, Mossek's direction elevates 'As Good as Dead' into a compelling narrative that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. The reverse narrative structure in 'As Good as Dead' adds an intriguing layer to the viewer's experience. By starting with the resolution and then working its way back to the beginning, it creates a sense of anticipation and curiosity, keeping the audience engaged and invested in unraveling the mystery. This unconventional storytelling technique allows the audience to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters, heightening the tension and making the film even more captivating.

What kind of sicko writes ship like this???? I mean REALLY? Who produces, directs, shoots, acts, and edits movies like this? Some people have spent weeks or months of their lives working on this dark, disturbing movie - which really has NO redeeming qualities. My wife and I kept thinking that at some point, something would happen that would make it interesting or worth watching, but it just made us uncomfortable and sick all the way through.

One line at the end of the movie was put in to make us feel like there was some big plot twist or revelation, but in reality, the whole movie was disgusting.

There's plenty of unfortunate, unavoidable violence and drama in the world without spending millions making movies with the intention of creating tension and suspense.

Grow up Hollywood.

Don't waste your time or mind walking down through this darkness. It's pointless and hopeless.

Probably the most pointless film in history.

This film keeps you guessing from the start. It never dwells too long on any point, so it never gets dull or tedious.

In general terms, it's a murder mystery in reverse that's a combination of horror and psycho-thriller.

In terms of acting and direction, nothing seems artificial or forced as tends to be the case whenever a little girl and a dog are involved. The director does an excellent job of blending the cute, mass appeal elements with the rest of the film so nothing becomes overly cutesy or fake.

Possibly the best part is that all the twists, even those that don't seem to make sense, end up making sense, including the title. It's a rare film that would work very well as a book.