I miss Bill Paxton. Sure, I never actually got to meet the man, but I loved his work. And It has been forever since I watched his film Frailty, so why not a revisit?

Damn, this one is still a solid film.

Mr. Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) comes to see FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe). He says he knows who the God’s Hand serial killer is. Doyle scoffs, but Meiks tells the story of his youth.

Adam (Jeremy Sumpter) and older brother Fenton (Matt O’Leary) are living with their widowed father (Paxton). Their middle-class and getting by with their father’s mechanic work, but their lives take a bizarre turn. Their father claims that he was visited by an angel, chosen by god, to fight the demons that have been released to fight the final battle between good and evil.

The family’s job is to hunt down and destroy demons. Adam is quick to believe, wanting his father’s love, but Fenton fears his dad may be going over the edge. And he’s completely horrified when his father abducts a woman and kills her, claiming she’s a demon.

And she’s only the first one.

Adam and dad seem to be able to take this all in stride, but Fenton clings to his belief in reality, and worries about what to do. He’s divided by his love and fear for his father.

Dad insists that they are doing the lord’s work. As Fenton watches his father descend into madness he’ll have to decide what to do.

This is a solid film, and it’s great to watch Paxton in a role like this. He plays the father with such earnestness that you almost believe his claims. And that makes it all the scarier. Ugh religion.

It’s spooky, well-crafted, and despite some truly horrific moments, not a lot of blood or gore. Paxton delivers a solid film that just works without devolving into something silly. It works. It works well, and he gets strong performances out of his young cast even as he shows his character and his blind faith growing.

Frailty works. It works on multiple viewings – I watched a few times back in the day. Watching it this time, was almost like the first time again, and it was great watching it all play out.

It’s moody, scary, troubling, and very well-acted. Paxton puts it all on the screen, getting the most out of his cast and his production. And it still entertains.

If you’ve never seen it, definitely check it out. If you have, do yourself a favor and rewatch it.