There are a lot of reasons to like this movie and Brian Cox and the trio of young male actors are definitely four of them.
Following the opening titles we move straight into the action (both Cox through the title scenes and the young actors managing to develop their characters fully in this first scene - which is beautifully shot and maintains its tension and brooding throughout). Although the rest of the film trails off only marginally the supporting cast is also excellent and some nice tributes are made to the horror genre - although they have managed to adapt the book into a much more taught thriller.
It's the interplay of all the characters be they "right" or "wrong" that makes this film such a joy.
It is also of note that given the two directors on the movie the transition is seamless and there is no way to know who directed what (although seeing this at the Edinburgh Film Festival) Trygve Allister Diesen and Stephen Susco definitely gave good clues after the film.
Susco has also upped his game since the reworking of the Grudge films and that's good to see and hopefully the film will give him an opportunity to move on to better projects.
Tom Sizemore is as you would expect but ably cast as the father of the boys creating a level of menace and music and camera work are well above average. The monologue where Cox reveals his characters family history is fabulously handled.
The film is very well handled and I would happily see it again.
Following the opening titles we move straight into the action (both Cox through the title scenes and the young actors managing to develop their characters fully in this first scene - which is beautifully shot and maintains its tension and brooding throughout). Although the rest of the film trails off only marginally the supporting cast is also excellent and some nice tributes are made to the horror genre - although they have managed to adapt the book into a much more taught thriller.
It's the interplay of all the characters be they "right" or "wrong" that makes this film such a joy.
It is also of note that given the two directors on the movie the transition is seamless and there is no way to know who directed what (although seeing this at the Edinburgh Film Festival) Trygve Allister Diesen and Stephen Susco definitely gave good clues after the film.
Susco has also upped his game since the reworking of the Grudge films and that's good to see and hopefully the film will give him an opportunity to move on to better projects.
Tom Sizemore is as you would expect but ably cast as the father of the boys creating a level of menace and music and camera work are well above average. The monologue where Cox reveals his characters family history is fabulously handled.
The film is very well handled and I would happily see it again.