Anyone out there know how the writer/director of this film got this gig with no proved track record or cinematic experience? And why, after hitting a home run on his first time at bat, he's only done one other film??? You have to give it to writer/director Tommy Stovall. He pulls off the impossible: the suspension of your disbelief as this convoluted plot unfolds to it's climactic, then unresolved, ending. There is no good reason to look at this screenplay and think that there is any way to get an audience to go along with this story, and yet, it works. During the filming of "The Birds", Tippy Hedren famously told Alfred Hitchcock that it made no sense that her character would walk upstairs and open the door to a room where she would be attacked by birds, for a second time, nearly to death. Hitchcock responded, "do as I say", and everyone knows how that turned out. So, Tommy Stovall has delivered, with purpose, the tragic story of a brutal hate crime with a shocking ending that should by all standards of common sense, be unbelievable. It's not. Without spoiling the ending I will only say that what he does, he does for affect, and it works. In this film he plays out the rage, and hunger for justice, that the loved ones of murder victims feel down to their bones. He constructs the story in a way that will never play out in real life. And you don't care that it doesn't happen that way in real life. His characters just want the world to be right again. And yet, they come to realize that it never will be. And justice may not be served. Here are four reasons why this film works. First: it plays on the inevitable feelings of grief, anger, and a yearning for justice, that are so powerful and universal when someone we love, or just know, or have even only read about, is brutally and senselessly murdered. Second reason: Tommy Stovall knows how to handle the story he's written (which is as unbelievable in itself since he'd never made a movie before this one). From the camera angles, to the rhythm and pace of the whole movie, scene by scene, and frame by frame, he has the audience in the palm of his hand. If I were to tell someone the plot line of this film even I wouldn't believe the words coming out of my own mouth. But he makes it work and justifies it, with his committed and skillful directing, to the end. Third reason: the cast is brilliant (mostly). Those who aren't, are easily good enough. The power parts are written for the mother of the victim and his killer. In my opinion, Stovall, for reasons of identifiability, underplayed the role of the surviving boyfriend of the victim in favor of the role of the mother. Again, for affect. As she sees law enforcement fail her son, Cindy Picket, who plays the mother, handles the evolution from "grief stricken mother" to "mother bear", with an intensity and realism that makes you wonder if she might have actually lived this at some point in her own life. Her face is worn. Her soul is crushed. She doesn't care if she lives or dies and you believe that she is capable of anything. Bruce Davison, who's career spans over forty years, has never given a bad performance. He is, in fact, one of the most consistently effective actors, no matter the role, the film, the director, or the lack of all three. And here, he gives a terrific performance with very little screen time. At the point in the film where he growls from the his gut, "are you people insane???", you know who the crazy one is. Also effective are Seth Peterson and Brian J. Smith who play a loving, and lovable, couple about to take big steps together into their future. Their relationship is adorably normal. The tragedy that happens to them is brutal and it's senselessness is jarring. Lin Shaye gives a quirky and endearing performance as their best friend/neighbor that's good for lightening the story. That is, until it's time for her to put down the hammer. Which she does very well - using a sledge hammer by the way. In the end, a film succeeds or fails based on how it's written. A good film never comes from a bad script. And this is a challenging script. Very challenging. I'm not sure that anyone but the writer of this story could have directed it as well. All credit has to go to Tommy Stovall, his vision, and his talent as a writer/director. He was able to envision how this could work. And it does. And, about the ending (the fourth reason)... there isn't one. And that, more than anything, is it's, and Stovall's, genius.

Writer/director Tommy Stovall's first and only film is worth the time to watch for a very good story and some great characters.Brian J. Smith does his first film as Trey, partner of Robbie (Seth Peterson). Trey is the victim of a hate crime, presumably at the hands of the religious kook who just move in next door. Turns out this isn't his first hate crime, but no one locked him away after the last one.Cindy Pickett does an outstanding job as Trey's mother, and Bruce Davison is perfect as the pastor and the father of the kook. Granny Boone (Lin Shaye) is also present as a neighbor, and you just have to love her character.The police did not seem interested in finding the person who beat and killed Trey, so it was up to Robbie to find out what happened. Some secrets get exposed, and a killer is found and dealt with in a manner where it could be said that justice is served.

The actual intent of the writers or director of this film is not quite clear, perhaps an attempt to look at Hate Crimes in general and hate as an answer to hate. Was the revenge murder acceptable? Is lex talionis the only plausible ethic? This movie does not make it clear, but it does bring up the issues very graphically. Some might despise this movie as being sympathetic to the gay community or for making Christians out to be mindless hate-mongers. This view would be incorrect. Actually, the film shows quite perfectly the difference between good religion and bad as the movie switches between the fearful hate filled sermon of the fundamentalist preacher who uses the pulpit to foment hatred of anybody who does not toe their particular interpretation of the Bible, and a more liberal Christian church that emphasizes the loving, forgiving aspects of God. So those who would see this movie as a blanket attack on the Church or God would be in error. It is not any particular doctrine that is harmful but the way it is held. If I believe that Jesus died to save me for my sins, that is one thing. If I believe that it is OK for me, in the name of Christ, to brutalize nonbelievers that is a totally different thing altogether. I, a Jew, like Gandhi, can say "I like Christ, but I rather dislike his followers." But not all of them are mindless, intolerant schmucks, or inclined to commit murder in God's name. There are good Christians, Jews and Muslims in this world who are a credit to their faiths, there are others who are a boil on the butt of humanity. Besides, why should I or any other mortal do God's job? If God actually hates homosexuals, then God can deal with them. It's not my job even if I disagree with their acts. Righteousness is a good thing as long as Righteousness doesn't become fascism and the righteous few decide it is their job to destroy the wicked many. But was it OK for the mother and lover of the gay man murdered to get revenge, or rather would there revenge been necessary if the police officer in charge of the investigation basically not sat on his butt and did little or nothing. A person is a member of the clergy, does that give that person carte blanche immunity from suspicion. All of us know how many predatory child rapists hide behind a clerical collar, but at the same time, many are good people trying to build a better, saner world. But the sad fact remains that religion has fostered more hate, intolerance and war in this world than any other force. There is good religion, a personal thing, and bad religion, where one submits to some supposed authority, or follows blindly like some stupid sheep. There is a religion that inculcates strength of spirit and will, and a religion that fosters a slave mentality, and blind obedience to authority. That religion is very very bad for the individual and for society. For those who doubt, I recommend the web-site godhatesfags.com for an example of religion at its worst. Here, the days Michael Shepherd, murdered in a fag bashing, has been burning in Hell are gleefully tallied up. At his funeral, this demonic church carried banners attacking Michael, his parents, and anybody who cared about the man. Is God such a fiend that he wants people like that as followers? I doubt it. I really do.

I seen this movie this past fall at the Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.It was seen by such few people because it was on a Monday nite. It was one night only.It was one of the better gay related movies i have seen. What a powerful story.It was also very emotional. This could really happen which made it so more interesting to watch.I'm not sure why this movie wasn't released.I am trying to find the DVD. I would buy it so other people i know can see this movie.