This thriller was obviously a labour of love for actor Bill Paxton, who directs and also stars in the leading role as a man convinced that the world is populated by demons masquerading as humans and who believes that God has given him a mission to kill them all. It sounds pretty odd, and it is, and it also could have been extremely cheesy BUFFY-style entertainment if handled wrongly. Instead, everything goes right with this film: great acting, direction, cinematography – and as a result it becomes one of the most disturbing mainstream films I've seen in recent years.
The film works because you're never sure whether the characters really do have some supernatural mission from God or whether they're criminally insane. You do find out at the climax, and I have to say that knowledge spoils what otherwise would have been a flawless film; knowing for sure subtracts from the carefully built suspense that has come before. Otherwise, this is literate and engaging, boasting a truly frightening performance from nice-guy Bill Paxton playing to form, as well as some excellent support from a career-best Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe, an actor who can do no wrong in my eyes. The grisly subject matter might be a turn off for some, but the carefully detailed human relationships that are kept first and foremost are what made me keep watching this one.
The film works because you're never sure whether the characters really do have some supernatural mission from God or whether they're criminally insane. You do find out at the climax, and I have to say that knowledge spoils what otherwise would have been a flawless film; knowing for sure subtracts from the carefully built suspense that has come before. Otherwise, this is literate and engaging, boasting a truly frightening performance from nice-guy Bill Paxton playing to form, as well as some excellent support from a career-best Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe, an actor who can do no wrong in my eyes. The grisly subject matter might be a turn off for some, but the carefully detailed human relationships that are kept first and foremost are what made me keep watching this one.