(Note: This review is based off of a screener from November 2009. The released film may be different.) Christine (Katie Fountain), an aptly named Christian woman who has inherited a considerable amount of wealth, is on vacation for the weekend with her friends. What could have been a fun and romantic weekend turns to chaos when a deranged military man (Michael Madsen) and his redneck goons decide to take the group hostage, with no qualms about executing a few or all of them in the process.
Writer-director-actor Ace Cruz says that he is living the American Dream. I find that a reasonable expression of his success. While his films may not have wide acclaim yet, Cruz is still a rising star and with a little fine tuning here or there he might break into the major leagues. Keep your eye on him.
I have to call to potential viewers' attention the defects of this film. The special effects are particularly poor: a bad lightning effect, cheesy hillbilly teeth, and a horrible gunshot animation are notable examples. Also, the audio is not well-recorded, at times echoing and at others seemingly dubbed too strongly. These shortcomings can be blamed on the budget most likely, but finicky viewers will be bothered by them and it's important to be aware of this.
Those criticisms aside, this film has its strong points. The general plot is interesting and the action is high. The girls, particularly the one who plays Molly ("American Pie" veteran Natasha Lyonne), are hot (sorry to be sexist, but this helps a film). What I found to be the most brilliant idea of the film was a scene where the goons were attempting to find the cell phones in the house by calling from other cell phones. I have remarked in the past about how cell phones have become (understandably) ubiquitous in horror films, but this was the most creative way I've seen of removing them from the equation.
And, of course, the film's biggest draw: Michael Madsen. He may not have the star power he once had, but like Tom Sizemore he will still bring in a certain cult audience. With good reason: Madsen's sadistically evil, yet carefully measured performances rarely if ever fail. This is no exception -- every scene he has, he steals. And that is not a complaint; I could watch this man for hours on end. (Do I even have to mention how awesome Michael Berryman is?) I think this film is worth watching if you're into thrillers and hostage films, and especially if you're an aspiring filmmaker. Certainly, you could pick a more polished film to watch, but I think Cruz is an interesting director because he is growing, and watching his growth really reveals something about the craft of directing. And, frankly, as a critic I must confess that if I directed I wish if I could make something of this caliber.
