Frailty

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Frailty

R

Released Apr 12, 2002

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Set in present day Texas, "Frailty" centers on the FBI's search for a serial killer who calls himself "God's Hands." McConaughey plays Fenton Meeks, a young man who approaches the lead investigator, one night, claiming he knows the identity of the killer. The FBI agent is curious, but unimpressed until Fenton reveals that the killer is his younger brother Adam. This is a film about faith, family and the end of innocence.

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Critics Consensus

Creepy and disturbing, Frailty is well-crafted, low-key horror.

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Paxton steals the show. And O'Leary more than holds his own again here. Too bad it's in a movie that fails to live up to its potential.

Jul 30, 2013

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Violent and ultimately uneven and unsatisfying.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

Robert Koehler

Variety

A resoundingly old-fashioned and well crafted study of evil infecting an American family, "Frailty" moves from strength to strength on its deceptive narrative course.

Nov 21, 2008

Full Review

Cody Leach

Cody Leach (YouTube)

Frailty is a perfect exploration of childhood fear as it collides with religion. Bill Paxton's deliberately reserved direction makes the horror more effective in it's reliance on reactions and suggestion. Every twist delivers and sticks the landing!

Rated: 5/5

Mar 26, 2024

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

[Frailty] still packs a chilling punch to the gut that stands the test of time today.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Paxton creates a memorable story that, while supplying too many answers about its own ambiguities, offers the chance to find multiple readings.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

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Jackson87 C

The strength of Frailty lies in its atmosphere. Paxton’s direction effectively builds tension throughout the film, maintaining a slow-burn creepiness as viewers are drawn into a story that blurs the line between faith and madness. The performances, especially from Matthew McConaughey and Paxton, help anchor the film, with McConaughey's eerie calm adding an extra layer of unease. Paxton's portrayal of a devout father convinced he’s on a divine mission is disturbing, particularly because of his conviction and the impact it has on his sons. While the film has a strong premise and some twists that work well, Frailty can feel a bit uneven at times. The pacing, especially in the middle, drags in parts, and the film doesn’t always capitalize on the potential psychological complexity of its characters. The themes of fanaticism, morality, and family dysfunction are intriguing, but they could have been explored with more depth. The movie’s twist ending is effective, though it may not be entirely unpredictable for seasoned thriller fans. However, it does leave viewers questioning the nature of good and evil, which is a testament to the film's thought-provoking narrative. ChatGPT c

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

Full Review

Chris F

Good ending and good acting. There is a lot of mystery and murder surrounding the film, but it feels a little too reserved.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

Well-made story telling. Bet you'll not expect the plot twist at the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/24

Full Review

Wolfgang G

Frailty ist ein US-amerikanischer Film von und mit Bill Paxton. ,,, Ein mysteriöser Mann kommt in die Büros eines FBI-Agenten und erzählt von seiner Kindheit: Wie sein religiös fanatischer Vater Visionen erhielt, um Menschen zu zerstören, die tatsächlich "Dämonen" waren. ,,, Frailty ist ein origineller und hervorragender Psycho-Horrorfilm, der mit einem perfekten Drehbuch (Brent Hanley) und einem archetypischen Charakter versehen wurde.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/30/24

Full Review

John D

Amazing I can't believe in 2024 I am just now seeing this. Wonderful. Telling everyone I know who hasn't seen it to watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

Full Review

D. M

Critically underrated movie. Bill Paxton leads a great cast. Sunspensful movie that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. And that final twist is supurb. Worth a second watch or worth picking up if you haven't watched it in a while.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

Full Review

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Bill Paxton

Director

Bill Paxton

Dad

Matthew McConaughey

Adam Meiks

Powers Boothe

Agent Wesley Doyle

Matt O'Leary

Young Fenton Meiks

Luke Askew

Sheriff Smalls

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Frailty: Official Clip - God Knew

2:50

Frailty: Official Clip - You Can't Escape God's Wrath

2:50

Frailty: Official Clip - Killing a Brother

2:05

Frailty: Official Clip - Fenton's First Victim

2:59

Frailty: Official Clip - Sometimes Truth Defies Reason

1:47

Frailty: Official Clip - The First Demon

2:59

Frailty: Official Clip - A Vision From God

3:31

Frailty: Official Clip - The List

2:50

Frailty: Official Clip - You Gotta Believe Me!

2:42

Frailty: Official Clip - The Promise

2:21

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Synopsis

Set in present day Texas, "Frailty" centers on the FBI's search for a serial killer who calls himself "God's Hands." McConaughey plays Fenton Meeks, a young man who approaches the lead investigator, one night, claiming he knows the identity of the killer. The FBI agent is curious, but unimpressed until Fenton reveals that the killer is his younger brother Adam. This is a film about faith, family and the end of innocence.

Director: Bill Paxton
Producer: David Blocker, David Kirschner, Corey Sienega
Screenwriter: Brent Hanley
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: David Kirschner Productions, American Entertainment
Rating: R (Violence|Some Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.1M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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