“And boy-o-boy is this thing ever dark and gritty..its a slow burn but the type that really keeps u engaged..also more and more disturbed by what is happening in the film until the twist ending..” Letterboxd

The film's greatest strength lies in its cast, particularly a young Ryan Phillippe in what many consider one of his strongest early career roles .

Portrays the family patriarch as a psychotic, menacing Vietnam veteran whose war trauma has manifested into a reign of terror. Reviewers note he is effectively brutal, though some critics at Variety felt his character lacked a vulnerable "hint of understanding."

Plays the compliant wife with a mystique and verve that captures the anxiety of living under constant fear. Narrative and Tone