Movie imaginative, but melodrama caused laughs.

Rating: Null/10 (3 November 2004)

This movie is imaginatively written by a first-time screenwriter and actor. This is a great lesson for actors - write your own movie and refuse to let it be made until they cast you in the lead role. Vin Diesel did a similar thing. This actor seems to have established himself with this movie. The actors are competent, the writing intricate, and it's shot well. Only one problem - the melodrama in one climactic scene caused the audience to laugh at some inappropriate times. They weren't suppose to laugh, they were suppose to be riveted. Good choice to open this movie on Halloween weekend as it fits in the horror theme. The theatre checked ID's on the way into the theatre to make sure the kiddies didn't buy a ticket to something else and try to sneak into this movie. That was necessary as this movie I think should have been NC-17 rated just for the gore and intensity. There's nothing sexual and no nudity, so they gave it a R-rating, which was too little. The box office might actually have been higher had they given it a NC-17 rating, as I can't see too many parents taking their under-17 kiddies to this one. I heard that it was originally NC-17 but they cut it down to get the R-rating. Must have done that to get the widest release possible, as some theatre chains won't run a NC-17 movie. Danny Glover's character is inadequately developed and utilized, he seems out of place in this film. They could have used an unknown, but I guess they needed a "name" to help sell this film. I would recommend seeing this film, but don't eat before you go.