Unexpected is a word I would use to describe the Rory Karpf directed and co-written thriller Grace Point - a minimalist thriller that sets out to provide a wholesome message. Despite the movie being surprisingly tame, I was enraptured from start to surprising finish.
As a last resort for his son - Brandon's (John Owen Lowe) drug addiction, a desperate father (Winston played by Andrew McCarthy) has arranged for him to stay at a remote rehab centre deep out in the American countryside. Stopping off for petrol enroute, Winston manages to inadvertently anger a local redneck and so leaves the station in a hurry. Not much further down the road, the car they are travelling in breaks down and the angry redneck appears with friends in tow. During an altercation with the men (that Brandon records on his phone), Winston ends up getting shot in the stomach and with maybe his last breath implores his son to flee. This begins a nightmare journey through Hell for the boy, unsure if his father even still lives, he sets out on a crazed trek through the remote and hostile countryside, his goal to make it the twelve miles to the rehab centre so that he can seek assistance. Hot on his heels are the rednecks, led by Luther (Sean Carrigan) - the psychopathic leader of an isolated survivalist community who is none too pleased that Brandon has evidence of his crime against Winston. Out of his depth, Brandon's only help comes in the form of a former marine named Cutter (Jim Parrack - Lost Child, Suicide Squad) he encounters, who sees something in the boy worth saving.
There was a feeling of The Warriors to this thriller, with Brandon's road trip though an alien landscape where danger lurks at every corner echoing the gang's flight through New York. The somewhat generic opening turned into something more interesting, having a protagonist who was certainly more 'flight' than 'fight', his young age meaning he wasn't a match for anyone he encounters. Having a film start mid-story always appeals to me, but as the boy spends most the film running, to have a scene of him running through woodland before a 'four days earlier' message pops up, didn't make for the most exciting teaser of things to come. Forced to pull on reserves he didn't even know he had, and not able to trust anyone he meets, the film became a real thrill ride that carried a feeling of prolonged tension. As the lead character, Brandon was a bit annoying, this was purposeful with the story developing his character in a way that he starts to recognise his own flaws and begin to change. He may have been a bit pathetic, but I really enjoyed the learning journey he goes on, and the many varied characters he meets. Favourite character was Cutter, this PTSD afflicted former soldier was really likeable and had some great lines. I think my favourite line in the whole film was when he says "There's no getting away from pain Brandon. Sometimes it's best to face it head on." Luther appeared to be an intimidating antagonist, carrying with him an aura of quiet menace that made him feel like a genuine threat. It's good he had this aura about him as his actions didn't live up to his threatening words, more intent on trying to convince Brandon to join his community than to hurt him. A high threat level didn't translate into much on-screen horror or violence shown with those elements being mostly absent. Instead, the pacing is mainly made up of a wild cat and mouse game between the boy and Luther's men that included a whole bunch of thrilling chase sequences, including on foot, on bicycle, and on quad bike sequences.
With how focussed this was on Brandon's flight, the film had a minimalist feel to it, from the simple story being told, to the barren run-down locations. The protagonist is given depth via frequent childhood flashbacks that hint at what made him turn to drugs, and these scenes are used to empower him on his seemingly hopeless quest. There came a huge plot twist at the end that took me totally by surprise. I had a feeling that there would be a twist of some kind as there were some odd moments, but I assumed it would be a done to death twist, such as all the events taking place in the main characters mind. This though, was one of those moments that would make a second viewing show events in a completely different light.
For those who like their UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the cast includes ESPN broadcaster Din Thomas, as well as former champions Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman.
As much as I enjoyed the story once it had been completed, Grace Point was high on thrills but low on on-screen peril. Luther looked the part of the all powerful antagonist, but really seemed to be more bark than bite when it came down to his actions. Usually that would be a deal breaker for me, but I did enjoy the direction the story went in, even if it perhaps wrapped things up a little too neatly. A clever film that explores the nature of addiction in a vaguely preachy yet still intriguing way. Grace Point is due to release on January 28th and his it's L.A premiere on 30th January.
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