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Emprise

Original title: Frailty
  • 2001
  • 16
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
97K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,383
165
Matthew McConaughey in Emprise (2001)
CrimeDramaThriller

A mysterious man arrives at the offices of an FBI agent and recounts his childhood: how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were in fact "demons."A mysterious man arrives at the offices of an FBI agent and recounts his childhood: how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were in fact "demons."A mysterious man arrives at the offices of an FBI agent and recounts his childhood: how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were in fact "demons."

  • Director
    • Bill Paxton
  • Writer
    • Brent Hanley
  • Stars
    • Bill Paxton
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Powers Boothe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    97K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,383
    165
    • Director
      • Bill Paxton
    • Writer
      • Brent Hanley
    • Stars
      • Bill Paxton
      • Matthew McConaughey
      • Powers Boothe
    • 587User reviews
    • 161Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos1

    Frailty
    Trailer 2:02
    Frailty

    Photos99

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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Dad Meiks
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Adam Meiks
    Powers Boothe
    Powers Boothe
    • FBI Agent Wesley Doyle
    Matt O'Leary
    Matt O'Leary
    • Young Fenton
    Jeremy Sumpter
    Jeremy Sumpter
    • Young Adam
    Luke Askew
    Luke Askew
    • Sheriff Smalls
    Levi Kreis
    Levi Kreis
    • Fenton Meiks
    Derk Cheetwood
    Derk Cheetwood
    • Agent Griffin Hull
    Missy Crider
    • Becky Meiks
    • (as Melissa Crider)
    Alan Davidson
    • Brad White
    Cynthia Ettinger
    Cynthia Ettinger
    • Cynthia Harbridge
    Vincent Chase
    • Edward March
    Gwen McGee
    Gwen McGee
    • Operator
    Edmond Scott Ratliff
    • The Angel
    Rebecca Tilney
    Rebecca Tilney
    • Teacher
    Blake King
    • Eric
    Brad Berryhill
    Brad Berryhill
    • Teenage Demon
    Greg Serano
    Greg Serano
    • FBI Agent #1
    • Director
      • Bill Paxton
    • Writer
      • Brent Hanley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews587

    7.297.1K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8jmverville

    Genuinely Good Film

    The film is very complete in what it is, keeping one continuously interested with the flashbacks to childhood and growing up with such a bizarre father, and interspersing it with the tails of serial murder, one simply cannot go wrong. The very plot in itself, the very story and essence of the film, is entertaining. It is the sort of story that the director (Bill Paxton) could do so much with, and in this case, he really did do a lot with it.

    From beginning to end you are kept anticipating more and more about what is happening and where the film is going, and the creativity that is behind this story is first class. I felt as if this film was exquisitely done from start to finish, and one of those rare gems that seemed to be without any boring lulls -- the action flowing neatly, quickly, and tightly from one scene to the next.

    It demonstrates just how far people can go: so as to do such horrible things to their loved ones, and to do such acts of evil, in the name of 'God' when they are disillusioned as in this case. It also is sometimes interesting in its' twists & takes on the concept of morality as a whole.

    Overall, this is the sort of film that one easily overlooks, but I would recommend you to not do likewise and to check this film out -- it is very much so worth your time.
    9skcollob

    An excellent horror/thriller

    Bill Paxton stars in and directs this highly original film. Having watched the first time I was by how good it was. The reviews I had heard were OK . As a result I was expecting an average thriller at most .However because of Paxtons excellent directing and acting the film is well worth watching , especially if you are a horror film fanatic.The film is also helped by the plot twists which keep coming until the closing credits . The films strongest point is the storyline which I have to say is highly original and is like I have ever seen before. Well done also to the 2 young leads which perfectly convey the emotions if these confused boys. I give this film 9/10 and I highly recommend that everyone catches it.
    8claudio_carvalho

    A Great Debut of Bill Paxton as Director in a Very Scary Low-Budget Movie

    Matthew McConaughey is a mysterious man waiting for Agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe) in his FBI office. He claims to have information about a serial killer chased by FBI. When Agent Doyle arrives in the office, he tells him that the serial killer is indeed his dead brother. Agent Doyle requests some evidence, and the man tells the story of his life, since his childhood. They were a simple family of three: his widow father Meiks (Bill Paxton), his brother and himself. One night, his father gathers the two brothers and tells them that an angel of God had just visited him and assigned his family to destroy demons. What happens next is one of the most scary movie I have ever seen.

    I watched this movie four months ago on VHS, and yesterday I watched again, now on DVD. Although being a low-budget movie, the screenplay is sharp, with no flaw. The cast is outstanding, but I would like to highlight the performance of Matt O'Leary as the young Felton. It is a very difficult and complex role to be performed by a young teenager. The direction of Bill Paxton is remarkable. There is no explicit violence in this horror movie. A great debut behind the camera. I regret the Brazilian title of this movie: 'A Mão do Diabo' (The Devil's Hand'). If at least it were 'The God's Hand', it might be acceptable. But calling this movie as 'the devil's hand' is indeed ridiculous. Brent Hanley, the screenwriter, did not deserve such a lack of respect from the Brazilian distributor. This film is highly recommended. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil): "A Mão do Diabo" ("The Devil's Hand")
    7xuenylomluap

    Salut, Bill Paxton.

    This was recommended to me, and now I'm surprised it passed me by! A great play on the serial killer theme, and hearing voices from God, which many real life killers claim to have experienced. With solid direction from the late Bill Paxton and great acting throughout. And for a more mainstream horror movie, it still packed some serious punches.

    Salut, Bill Paxton.
    7lee_eisenberg

    Don't worry: it won't leave you feeling frail.

    A story about a single father trying to convince his two sons that there's demons everywhere seems like the sort of thing that would come out completely idiotic. But they pull it off here rather neatly. It's the story of how Dad Meiks (Bill Paxton, in his directorial debut) got his sons to help him kill people whom he claimed were demons in 1970s Texas. Does he sound crazy? Maybe, but after you see the movie, you may have doubts about everything. Because believe you me, contrary to what you may expect, Matthew McConaughey can actually play a creepy role; and that's just what he does here.

    Texas sure has turned out some interesting directors: first Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, and now Bill Paxton.

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in Les Soprano (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When asked why the axe used by his character has the name "OTIS" carved into the handle, Paxton stated that he wanted the axe to have its own personality and to be unique. He found the name in Pasadena when he was there scouting for locations to film. Paxton met a homeless man and offered to give him some money. The homeless man did not want charity, so Paxton instead offered to buy the use of the man's name for his movie. The homeless man's name was Otis.
    • Goofs
      In the title credits montage, we see a newspaper which reads SECOND VICTIM FOUND IN GOD'S HAND CASE at 02:03. In the next scene, Agent Doyle tells his visitor that of the 6 victims in the God's Hand case, only the first body was ever found, while for "all the rest, only notes were found, no bodies."
    • Quotes

      Dad: Come in and close the door. Are you afraid?

      [Fenton nods]

      Dad: Of what?

      Young Fenton: You, you.

      Dad: Only demons should fear me. You're not a demon, are you? The angel said you were. I can't believe that. I won't. You're my son, and I love you more than my own life. You know what's funny about all this, Fenton? I'm afraid of you.

    • Crazy credits
      Directors Sam Raimi, Ivan Reitman and James Cameron, among others, are thanked at the end of the credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'Frailty' (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      (There Will Be) Peace In The Valley For Me
      Written by Thomas A. Dorsey

      Arrangement by Johnny Cash (as John R. Cash)

      Performed by Johnny Cash

      Courtesy of Mercury Records

      Published by Song of Cash, Inc. (ASCAP)

      Administered by Bug Music, Inc.

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    FAQ22

    • How long is Frailty?Powered by Alexa
    • [1:11:29]Did Fenton Meeks really see God or was he just telling his dad what he wanted to hear?
    • [12:47]Who is the woman in the framed photograph on the nightstand between Adam & Fenton's bed?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 15, 2002 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las manos del diablo
    • Filming locations
      • Leonard Avenue & Hanawalt Avenue - Wasco, California, USA(Barn where dad finds the axe)
    • Production companies
      • David Kirschner Productions
      • American Entertainment
      • Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,110,448
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,208,655
      • Apr 14, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,423,030
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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