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Political ranting aside, I think the movie deserves better than a sub-five average rating. It's well acted by the leads and Rob Lowe seems 'engaged' in his role. The DVD extras explain in detail the limitations of the production but at the same time the investment in the film by the director and cast members. It works as a ghost story and also as a mystery. The make-up and effects are well done and it has a decent pace. In a way it still has a distant connection to the first Stir of Echoes in that it portrays a working class American family. Yes, the film does make a comment on racism, but I didn't feel this was a generalized anti-American slag the way some other reviewers did. I look forward to other movies by this director and thumbs up to Rob Lowe for bringing his 'A' game to this small film. And where else can you see a Stouffville, Ontario sand pit doubling for Iraq?

Saw this at T.I.F.F. last year. It takes about 20 minutes to get rolling as you become familiarized with the 'cast'. Surprisingly Tommy Jones is well down the list of interesting interviews. The context of the times and the great archive footage make this a must see for any football fan or for the Doonesbury culture of Ivy League academia. The quotes from the ex-players are often very funny. Director Rafferty was at the actual game but unlike his father and grandfather, not a Harvard football player. The director managed to get most of the key players in the game. Unfortunately Calvin Hill, the only black player on Harvard and perhaps the most successful in the NFL of those playing in that game declined to be interviewed. Still, this film is very entertaining, captivating and suspenseful (despite knowing the final score) with the final minutes of the game providing a fitting climax to the film.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this film. I thought it would be strictly an exploitation flick, I will the central ideas are somewhat in that vein, it is done in a manner that demands respect. The director takes his time building up to the eventual unpleasant scenes which take place in the first half and then also builds some suspense in depicting the inevitable revenge which is promised in the title. The direction has a pseudo documentary style with lots of wide shots and scenes where the camera assumes a voyeuristic position as if looking across the lake or the road with binoculars. The contrast of the ordinariness of the town and its simple folk to the savagery some of its residents are capable of adds an extra bit of power to what transpires. Kudos to all the lead actors for investing themselves into scenes that must have been extremely difficult to be filmed in. Notfor all tastes but a better than average entry of its type.