Rounding off the cast are a group of terrific actors including James Cromwell as the General, Clarence Williams III as his aide, James Woods as the superior officer of the ill-fated daughter and Timothy Hutton as the head of the MPs. Leslie Stefanson, a relative new comer but one that shows great promise play the daughter Liz. Fortunately, although she is killed off early in the film, flashbacks offer a better look at this talented actress. Each performer adds dimension to their roles and helps the audience become draw deeper and deeper into the tale. The director, Simon West, does not have many films to his credit, Con Air is probably the best known, but he does a great job in this film.
Pacing is critical in any mystery.
Letting just enough information out to the viewer to keep them watching but not so much as to ruin the ending. West keeps the pace moving. He develops the back-stories well between Brenner and Sunhill but does not force it upon you. He avoids the rookie mistake of characters that supposedly know each other have to recount their lives to each other. West balances keeping your interest with a touch of reality.