Directed by Bill Paxton (his first directing credit)

Written by Brent Hanely (also a first timer)

Starring
Bill Paxton (Aliens, Near Dark)
Matthew McConaughey (Reign of Fire, Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Next Generation... Heh.)
Powers Boothe (Tombstone, Red Dawn)
Matthew O'Leary (Domestic Disturbance, Spy Kids 2)
Jeremy Sumpter (Local Boys, Just a Dream)

Review: by Don (e-mail your faithful reviewer)

Bill Paxton's directorial debut is a pretty good one.  I don't want to talk too much about events in the movie, as it really needs to be experienced for itself, but I'll hit the main plot points for you.

The year is 1979.  Fenton and Adam are brothers.  Their mother died in childbirth with Adam and Fenton more or less runs the house while Dad's at work, cooking dinner and the like.  One night, in the middle of the night, Dad wakes up the boys.  He tells them he had a visit from the angel of the Lord and that the end times are here.  They have been chosen as God's Hands to wipe the demons from the face of the Earth.  Thus begins a nightmare that will have ramifications stretching all the way to the present, from which Fenton tells the story to a police officer.  Despite one glaring plot hole big enough to drive an ambulance through, the movie is quite good.  Even if the surprise twist at the end isn't much of a surprise to everyone by that point, it's still an interesting trip.  The circle of violence and the perpetuation of madness is pretty well illustrated.

Paxton makes good use of the camera and lighting, and the two boys playing young Fenton and Adam are pretty good little actors and both turn in fine performances.  Paxton is Paxton and is good as always.  He's not quite the man, but he borders on it.  He did play Hudson in Aliens after all.  And Chet in Weird Science.  Not to mention his part in my previously reviewed Near Dark.

That's about all I have to say about it.  It's a good movie despite a few flaws.  I forgive the mistakes of a first time director.  Sometimes things happen that way, you know?  Now, if you'll excuse me, Otis and I have to go Destroy us some Demons.  Later.

DVD Details:

Three, count 'em, three commentary tracks.  One with Bill Paxton, one with the producers, and one with the screen writer.
Deleted scenes
Making of
Storyboards
Production Photos
More….

Further Information:

Internet Movie Database