As Good as Dead

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.

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.

I'm upset at how this wasn't released in theatres. It's probably because it didn't have a big-name cast. I'm also daunted by the fact that it isn't known at all, judging by the IMDb ratings.

I found the film quite thought-provoking, gripping and tense. It was one the better thrillers I've seen in the recent years.

The cast was amazing, Frank Whaley played a good (anti) villain, which was unexpected for me, as he is doesn't look "villainy". For a straight to DVD film, the cinematography and the direction were high grade. I really loved the music in this the most, as it was very suspenseful and heart-pumping. I full on expected an indie/minimalist score, but it was the opposite: high octane Hollywood music that will keep your adrenaline rushing.

The film, if you didn't know, has a twist ending, but I'm sure many smart people will predict it. But I loved it, as it gave this film more depth and shock value.

If you want to watch a little thriller with suspense throughout, this will be a good one. I'm glad I found this film. It's a very underrated and a quite overlooked one.

I recommend this film highly, not sure why all the hate. There are good performances and it touches on something which exists in our society today, whether people choose to see the reality or not.

Cary Elwes is a photojournalist who lives in NYC and is on the verge of being evicted. He lives with a daughter and is estranged from his wife. The film starts as he drops his daughter off to be with her mother. He has a golden retriever named "Mao".

We see flashbacks of an earlier pivotal incident which involves Brian Cox (always excellent, look for him in "Manhunter" and "The Minus Man" with Mercedes Ruehl and Owen Wilson as a serial killer).

Cox is an evangelical preacher, preaching hate, and that change in America can start with "just one match" and other such comments, along the lines of David Duke. His wife is Andie McDowell, and she has a son who we now see in NYC is 18 years old. He and his mother survived the attack but "an eye for eye" dictates they must now avenge the violence, and death of their religious leader.

I will not divulge the outcome but the theme here is interesting. Frank Whaley also belongs to this religious group and in NYC he tells Elwes "I was saved in prison my leader, he was a good man". He is a zealot, but resents anyone in New York who isn't "like him". He berates the local the news stand owner, "this city is "filled with foreigners" he remarks ignorantly.

McDowell is surprisingly good here, a southern woman with values about to be toppled, she has survived the horror of third degree burns over most of her body.

The director and writer have ventured into territory which is real here. Preaching hatred and violence leads to nothing, but death. Whether you are in New York City or Alabama.9/10.

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.