Mint condition DVD of a gripping edge-of-the-seat thriller
 

Director Jacob Estes's feature film debut is a remarkably accomplished coming of age drama about death and consequences. When overweight, emotionally troubled George (Josh Peck) beats up a smaller kid named Sam (Rory Culkin) one time too many, his older brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan) and Rocky's wrong-side-of-the-tracks pal (Scott Mechlowicz) decide to teach George a lesson. Along with their friend Clyde (Ryan Kelley) who was once the brunt of George's violence himself they bring George on a boat trip with a cruel prank in mind. Sam brings his love interest, Milly (Carly Schroeder), who tries to stop the plan when she decides George is a nice guy after all. Tragic things happen nonetheless with the slow, languid rhythm of life in a small Oregon town. Along the way, Estes manages to capture many fine moments of poetic realism like the stillness of the forest around the river, the swirling eddies along the shore, a snail crawling along a leaf, and a drowning video camera. Cinematographer Sharone Meir uses colour filters and washed-out film stock to make everything glow with faded colours like old family photographs. The dialogue feels natural and the acting is precise; Estes obviously loves his cast and allows plenty of time and space for their characters to breathe, think, and be the confused kids they're meant to be.

When I first saw this film in the TV guide, I thought it would be a trashy teen horror movie or slow paced shallow morality tale. Thankfully, I put my assumptions based on the title aside and sat down to watch.

It starts off in a wistful, slightly child like way with Rory Culkin being beaten up because he took the bully's (George, played with amazing understanding of the character by Josh Peck) video camera. This small event sparks his brother, Rocky, to take action and get revenge for the years of abuse he and his friends too suffered at the hands of George. The plan is simple - Set up a fake party and take him on the local river, play truth or dare and humiliate him.

Unfortunatly, they find that George is deeper than they thought and has issues they haven't considered. This, however, doesn't make up for his frequent lack of sensitivity and special skill for really annoying people. I'll leave it there with a description of the film, for it is one you truly have to discover for yourself.

The cast is excellent; all the actors know their characters inside out and play them with great skill. The setting and soft camera work adds to the child-like plot line (after all, we all wish to have revenge on our enemies, but often never can) and is often breath-takingly beautiful. The script has obviously been well considered and picked over. It's not at all rushed, and when it comes to the end you'll be wishing for more
(well, I was anyway!).

The only criticism is that this is not a film for all audiences - The target age range would be, I would say, between 15 and 35. Anyone older than that will probably loose the ability to emphasize with the anger of being bullied and sweet taste of revenge. It is also not an action film, with it being much more based around morality and punishment; is an eye for an eye a sensible mantra to live by, and when does it go too far?