Moderate coarse language and themes
USA 2008
Genre: Crime/Drama
Director: John Polson
Featuring: Russell Crowe, Laura Dern, Jon Foster & Sophie Taub
Language: English
Running Time 101 min
Having directed American pulp thrillers Swimfan (2002) and Hide and Seek (2005) to huge cinematic success, Australia’s John Polson takes a sharp left turn with this strangely lyrical, disturbing road movie about a teenage girl who shares a cross-country ride with a quiet psycho. The film, based on the book by Robert Cormier of the same name, follows the lives of three characters at the moment their paths meet. When ultra-violent teen Eric Poole (Jon Foster) is released from juvenile detention, he finds himself an unlikely object of infatuation for Laurie (Sophie Traub), an unhappy girl who finds his carefree mannerattractive, and reason enough toleave her troubled home.
Hot on Eric’s trail is Lieutenant Cristofuoro (Russell Crowe), a dogged, unkempt cop unwilling to believe that the correctional system has corrected anything, and whom he believes will claim Laurie as his next victim. Skilfully playing on the irony of its title, Polson maintains an unsettling tension throughout the narrative, building his slow-burn thriller to a climax that deliberately runs counter to the in-your-face genre principles of which he proved such a master with his first two thriller outings.
All the actors are perfectly cast but Sophie Traub is a true standout. Traub manages to convey the complexities of the character with a subtlety and vulnerability that is a testament to her burgeoning talent. As expected, Crowe is always a reliable talent and manages to make what amounts to a supporting character as interesting and endearing as the leads.
Source The Age.com.au, IMDB, The Vine Entertainment
Complied by Sue Aylett