On F List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Frailty (2001)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
6/04, 1/26
1/26:
While watching Frailty, I thought the writer must have read a lot of Stephen King books, and it
was confirmed during the interview as part of the DVD's special features.
A Southern Gothic tale, there are lots of emphasis on religion. As Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) was
relating it, I knew he had to be either lying or Adam; it turned out to be latter. If the story
held true to the end, I would've called the whole thing bullshit because there's no way he would've stayed
silent for so many years. Plus, there has to be plenty of abuse early on first; it's possible Fenton
wouldn't talk about that.
If you look at how Adam was reacting to what's going on, he fits the profile of a dominant-submissive
relationship in serial killer duos. Good examples are Kenneth Bianchi for Angelo Buono, Karla Homolka for
Paul Bernardo, and John Lee Malvo for John Allen Muhammad which came afterwards. It's about how
the accomplice is fascinated by what's going on. Otherwise, this can't be true for somebody who finds the
whole thing repulsive.
The reason for my rating of '8' is that Frailty sometimes feels cheap in a Stephen King way. Yet the
storytelling is quite good, having held my attention from start to finish. I'll put this one among the top
five performances for Matthew McConaughey. It helps to have him and two more big-name actors (Powers Boothe
and Bill Paxton) on board to reach for that Texan flavor. On the other hand, the boys playing Fenton and
Adam are fair.
All in all, where Philip Ridley failed to accomplish in
The Reflecting Skin, Bill Paxton succeeds for Frailty.