The movie definitely starts out strong. Dementia is one of the scariest realities to me and adding the twist of Vietnam POW PTSD makes it pretty heavy.
They did a good job of setting up the movie and introducing the characters in a fluid way. The acting was pretty great all around except for the son. His performance was just so flat. Another reviewer mentioned that this movie felt TV like, which I agree with, and the son's performance was one of those elements. The contrast of his performance against the others made it even more obvious.
I also thought she would be gaslighting him more into questioning reality therefore making us question it and not really knowing if perhaps we were stuck in his delusion as well. Instead it's pretty obvious from the beginning that she's messing with him and has nefarious intentions. Her composure split half way through was pretty bizarre too. I also saw this mentioned in other reviews, but the whole doll thing in the store was such kinda cringey. These are more of the TV movie-like vibes it was giving off. She had been playing this kind of eerie but somewhat normal character and then she just loses it and can't contain her creepiness for the rest of the movie. It wasn't terrible, just felt kinda awkward.
The Vietnam flashbacks were pretty visceral. They didn't show too much, but enough to make you understand the horror he must've experienced. The pacing was good. There wasn't really any lulls. 90 minute movies are more refreshing these days. It feels like less of an investment, and it was enough to tell the story without going too far off the rails.
Lastly, a few thoughts on the ending.
No clue how his granddaughter inexplicably freed herself from being gagged and bound. It almost seems like they edited a scene out. When she showed up to the house you're thinking ok so either she'll save him or he'll save her? Perhaps he can attempt to redeem himself by sacrificing himself for her? I don't know. Instead he is confronted with his horrible crime and he just does this about-face into a sadistic monster who seems to revel in the horrible things he did to this widow in front of her daughter. He wasn't even taken aback with this new information that this little girl watched him murder her mother? The entire movie we're kind of led to believe that this broken person who ended up being an alcoholic monster that did terrible things is now coming to terms with how horrible he was and is looking for an ounce of redemption in his final days only to find out he never really changed and it seems like he's still that sadistic monster even without the alcohol. And then it seems the only reason his granddaughter was there was to be the witness and I suppose ultimately bring him to justice by letting him die? Was the timely entrance of the son explained? Did he even notice the nurse shot dead on the floor? I mean, it definitely wasn't the ending I expected. I suppose you could call it a twist, but not really the kind of twist that makes you think. More like a "oh, ok" kind of twist.
I can't see myself watching it again, but it had its memorable moments.
They did a good job of setting up the movie and introducing the characters in a fluid way. The acting was pretty great all around except for the son. His performance was just so flat. Another reviewer mentioned that this movie felt TV like, which I agree with, and the son's performance was one of those elements. The contrast of his performance against the others made it even more obvious.
I also thought she would be gaslighting him more into questioning reality therefore making us question it and not really knowing if perhaps we were stuck in his delusion as well. Instead it's pretty obvious from the beginning that she's messing with him and has nefarious intentions. Her composure split half way through was pretty bizarre too. I also saw this mentioned in other reviews, but the whole doll thing in the store was such kinda cringey. These are more of the TV movie-like vibes it was giving off. She had been playing this kind of eerie but somewhat normal character and then she just loses it and can't contain her creepiness for the rest of the movie. It wasn't terrible, just felt kinda awkward.
The Vietnam flashbacks were pretty visceral. They didn't show too much, but enough to make you understand the horror he must've experienced. The pacing was good. There wasn't really any lulls. 90 minute movies are more refreshing these days. It feels like less of an investment, and it was enough to tell the story without going too far off the rails.
Lastly, a few thoughts on the ending.
No clue how his granddaughter inexplicably freed herself from being gagged and bound. It almost seems like they edited a scene out. When she showed up to the house you're thinking ok so either she'll save him or he'll save her? Perhaps he can attempt to redeem himself by sacrificing himself for her? I don't know. Instead he is confronted with his horrible crime and he just does this about-face into a sadistic monster who seems to revel in the horrible things he did to this widow in front of her daughter. He wasn't even taken aback with this new information that this little girl watched him murder her mother? The entire movie we're kind of led to believe that this broken person who ended up being an alcoholic monster that did terrible things is now coming to terms with how horrible he was and is looking for an ounce of redemption in his final days only to find out he never really changed and it seems like he's still that sadistic monster even without the alcohol. And then it seems the only reason his granddaughter was there was to be the witness and I suppose ultimately bring him to justice by letting him die? Was the timely entrance of the son explained? Did he even notice the nurse shot dead on the floor? I mean, it definitely wasn't the ending I expected. I suppose you could call it a twist, but not really the kind of twist that makes you think. More like a "oh, ok" kind of twist.
I can't see myself watching it again, but it had its memorable moments.