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Frailty
2002 100 min United States of America, Germany R 18+
★7.1
Drama, Thriller, Crime
Director: Bill Paxton
Trailers
Description
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 kill people who were in fact "demons."
Budget:
$11M
US Gross:
$13.11M
Worldwide:
$17.4M
Starring
Bill Paxton
Actor
Matthew McConaughey
Actor
Powers Boothe
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2003
— Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 2003
— Best Young Performer
Saturn Awards 2003
— Best Screenplay
Saturn Awards 2003
— Best Director
Key opinion
Frailty is widely regarded as a gripping and atmospheric psychological thriller that showcases impressive performances and skillful debut direction by Bill Paxton. While many praise its tense, thought-provoking exploration of faith and family, the film is polarized by a polarizing final act that some find to be a brilliant subversion, while others dismiss as a cheap or nonsensical gimmick.
| Direction | Bill Paxton's direction successfully builds a tense, moody atmosphere without relying on excessive gore. | |
| Acting | The film features powerful, committed performances from the core cast, including Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure effectively uses interwoven timelines to maintain suspense and deepen the psychological conflict. | |
| Ending | The final act is highly divisive; some viewers appreciate its unsettling subversion of the moral arc, while others feel it relies on predictable gimmicks that undermine the story's gravity. |