I watched this movie solely for Teresa Palmer's presence. I didn't really expect much going in other than a watchable thriller. I didn't even get that. It was technically watchable, but it lacks suspense and surprises. Oddly enough, the acting is fine. But there is absolutely nobody to root for, making this one somewhat of a murky and miserable experience. I don't mind thrillers that are derivative at all, as long as they are entertaining. You've seen this one all before and done much better. Let me start with the main problem, the characters. Palmer is by far the best thing about this movie. Her alluring, seductive, and amoral performance was the highlight for me. She was actually likable, which is more than I can say for anybody else. Travis Fimmel is actually very convincing as the crazed villain. He was just a bit too abrasive for my liking and didn't know when to simmer it down. It got to the point where it became OTT. He began to annoy me and it ruined the performance for me. Stephen Moyer plays his manipulative part well, but he's a major idiot. He is purportedly our hero, but he is arguably as flawed as the villains themselves. The ending made me wanna jump in the screen and strangle him. Speaking of the ending, I will give it some credit. The movie is just too unoriginal, slow, and unlikable for me to ever see again. It is worth a look, but nothing more. 5.2/10

Restraint is a very original take on the couple on the run story. More importantly though it is well crafted in every aspect and the acting is superb. The characters are very layered and oftentimes emotionally raw and the actors are definitely up to the task.Travis Fimmel is great as Ron being both violent and manipulative but also playful and even sympathetic. Stephen Moyer is also great as Andrew being a fearful victim that as time goes by becomes more bold with his captors. Both definitely brought the characters to life.Teresa Palmer as Dale had the most challenging role. She is conflicted over the deaths she has been a party to and her feelings for Ron and growing feelings for Andrew. She is not the least bit modest physically but is emotionally unsure of herself, even innocent. Palmer was not only capable but flawless in her portrayal.I did not recognize her as Number 6 in I Am Number Four until I checked her credits. That someone can immerse themselves in two such different characters so as to not be recognizable is a testament to their acting ability. She reminds me of a cross between Kristen Stewart and Naomi Watts.Now if they would just make I Am Number Six. Whoever has the rights to that should realize they have a star for the lead. As for Restraint I am still thinking about it the day after and I can't think of a higher compliment than that.

Well I must confess the only reason I picked this movie out was to see Stephen Moyer presented himself out of True Blood. Never heard of the movie before that. Oh, and the cover girl looked good...All in all, it's not that bad of a watch. Considering the number of characters in the entire movie it was certainly well made and keeps you engrossed till the end. Of course during the entire movie I was thinking I didn't realize Kristen Stewart was that hot until I realized later that it wasn't her, it was Teresa Palmer and she's smokin' if you get my drift. If not for Moyer and Fimmel, see this movie for Palmer, she certainly deserves more than a look! I'd give a 10/10 for her, but considering the meek storyline, I'll drop it by 4 notches.

I thought the camera work in this movie was beautiful. It didn't feel like a low budget film at all; the actors were top-notch, and the sets, props, costumes, and effects felt just right--even luxurious, where that was appropriate. (My definition of a low budget film is Chill.) Granted, the movie used a limited number of locations, but it used them very well. When one of the main characters has agoraphobia, there's not much need to leave the house.All three of the main actors were wonderful. They gave us characters who were neither heroes nor villains, just smarter-than-average people trying to get more out of life than society was willing to hand them. To me, this felt like a Hitchcock film: the characters play cat-and-mouse with one another while we viewers turn into heartless voyeurs and wait to see who is left standing at the end. In fact, the main flaw is that the three characters don't give us much to root for. I didn't become emotionally attached to anyone, so the exercise of watching them struggle for survival became a little too analytical. But that's much better than being bored, and this movie never bored me. And each of the characters had his or her own special appeal.One of my favorite moments is a little ghost story Ron tells. It could be considered the touchstone of the movie. The entire film feels ghostly--and deservedly so. Wonderful atmosphere.My only other complaint is that the ending isn't quite clear enough and thus lacks emotional punch. I wasn't surprised by the twist, but I expected it to be presented more effectively. I think a blend of main ending and alternate ending might have been better. I suspect the director was struggling with this part of the story; the rest of the movie feels very smooth and very well handled. But in any case, an excellent film. Considering that it's the director's first film and that the actors are not stars, it's amazing. And the cinematographer did splendid work.I notice that the person who gave this movie one star didn't have anything to say about the movie itself. I suspect he/she is one of those idiots who goes around "balancing out" the ratings, despite the fact that he/she hasn't bothered to watch the film.