I saw this first on a DVD in 2012. Was browsing the dvds n came across this title. Immediately searched IMDb n read some good reviews. Most reviewers have described this movie as Home Alone on steroids. Indeed. Add a lil of Rambo too. The plot is simple - a group of armed men attack a family looking for stolen money, the children hit back. Awesome flick. There's plenty of shotgun/gun violence, stabbing, bashing, limb breaking, hand skewering, and bloody booby-traps. This is a tense, suspenseful and violent movie nicely directed by Steven C. Miller n the cast has given decent performance. Ryan Hartwig (the kid) is creepy as hell with an anger issue. His role was wordless and he really nailed it. I have enjoyed Millers Automaton Transfusion n Silent Night, Deadly Night. Heard that Miller will b directing Escape Plan. Thats some good news.

Aggression Scale : (noun) A psychological test measuring the frequency of overt aggressive behaviors that may result in physical or psychological injury to others.Actually it was my intention to begin with a quote from Owen, the teenager who's at the core of this bloody home invasion, but this is impossible because he says not a single word throughout the film. Not a sound even. I was expecting a typical B-movie but as the movie progressed, I was pleasantly surprised. You can call it "Home Alone" for adults ("The Aggression Scale is like Home Alone on crack." I read somewhere) : bloody, vicious and sometimes straightforward explicitly violent. Compared with Owen, Kevin looks like a wimp. And the viciously tricks and booby traps that Owen constructs for his attackers, are worse and more deadly than those of Kevin.Essentially the story isn't that extraordinary. A certain Bellavance (Ray Wise) just left prison and wants to leave to a safer place together with his son. The only problem is that his hard-earned money is stolen. Four loyal gang members are instructed to find the money. And this task is tackled in a simple way: you take a list of all people who had something to do with it and you start off from the top of this list. Those who can't answer the questions, are unceremoniously provided with some fresh ventilation holes. And that's the first image you get to see in "The Aggression Scale". Immediately a bluntly and senseless slaughtering. The victim didn't even get the time to answer the question anyway. But it had effect, this "in-your-face" violence. I must admit I immediately sat straight after that moment. A real attention grabber that clarifies which direction it'll go.What Lloyd (Dana Ashbrook) and his companions weren't expecting, was the presence of the young scion Owen (Ryan Hartwig) of the family Rutledge, which was next on the list. This silent boy carries a fairly destructive secret with him. The Rutledge family has just moved into their new home where they wanted to start a brand new life. Lauren (Fabianne Therese) isn't happy about this course of events and clearly shows that. She doesn't feel like babysitting the weirdo Owen in this reconstituted family. However, she doesn't realize that she should be happy that this youngster stands at her side.Clearly it's a low-budget film, but one that was enormously appreciated by me. A fast-paced aggressive film that keeps your attention all the way. The continuous flow of violent scenes is perfectly dosed and the thoughtful actions of Owen make it interesting. Although he sometimes looked like a youthful MacGyver who used far-fetched methods which were successful because of the necessary amount of luck and coincidence. Also the performances can be praised. Ray Wise, who of course became known as Leland Palmer in "Twin Peaks", his contribution wasn't extensive. But the moments he came into the picture, he managed to portray a ruthless gangster.Also known from "Twin Peaks" is Dana Ashbrook (as Bobby Briggs). I surely didn't recognize him with that graying hair and rounded beard. He made me think of Ruben Block, the singer of Triggerfinger. But what charisma he exuded on the screen. The atmosphere changed immediately when he appeared. A threatening and unapproachable posture. He's surrounded by a few stereotype individuals : the mindless muscle bundle with a tremendous resilience, a moronic idiot and the cowboy-type with a "Je mon fou" attitude. But it's Ryan Hartwig who excels in his wordless role. In the beginning he looked like a retarded autistic boy but soon he grows out into a clever and inventive survivalist when he and his family are in danger The only one who irritated me immensely was Lauren. When trying to escape cold-blooded killers, you don't start running through the woods like a hysterical teenage girl screaming your lungs out. Luckily she calmed down near the end and gained control over herself again.There are several movies that show how someone can collapse psychologically and starts to react extremely aggressive. "The Aggressive Scale" however, shows how far one can go in his aggressiveness. It's a disturbing thought that someone is unable to control his aggressiveness without medication and constantly threatens others. But it's a starting point that's suitable to weave a fascinating concept around. The best hidden item in this film was the way Owen and Lauren grew together. They began as two strangers who interacted apathetically with each other and end up as a kind of Bonnie and Clyde. Inseparable and deadly vengeful.More reviews at http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be

Let me warn you right away. The aggression scale is just what it sounds like, this is one brutal movie. And it starts right away. Without any warning, or rather the opposite, the film shocks you right from start. I would categorize this as a slasher.We see a couple with two teenagers moving out in the countryside, obviously moving away from something. We don't really know why, but we've got a hunch. Amongst the things, are getting away from bullies, because the boy is mute, due to this. The film starts with a brutal gangster boss, Bellavance, just out if prison, missing no less than $ 500000, and that's not acceptable to him. On his command, his hoodlums start a killing spree.A scary undertone fills the first part of the movie, beautifully filmed in a thriller/horror way, just before something happens the film slows down to slow motion film. Quite neatly done.I can see some referring to this as bloody Home alone, and they have a point. The inventiveness of the teenagers are above average, you could say. They have had to watch a lot of violent movies to get this brutal.Another interesting point is the two Twin Peaks actors, Robert Wise and Dana Ashbrook, one very recognizable, the other you've gotta watch the eyes to recognize. They are both brilliant. It's more to scrutinize with some of the other's acting. The girl Is OK until she is hurt, Then she turn plain bad. The mute kid is better. The film is also too unrealistic when it comes to the hits and the walking from the woods on broken bones. This puts me off a bit. I enjoy a good slasher, but I like it to be plausible. Some great talent here, but not all is functioning in this low budget slasher. Still it's able to keep a certain tension. Director Steven C. Miller is on his way up, and this is his best film so far.

I could write 100.000 words about how horrible this so-called movie is, but that would not even justify it enough, but what chocks me the most is to see how high IMDb has rated it. This, and this alone, was my reason to give it a chance, but I must say that IMDb ratings is not as trustworthy as it once wore. I think one of the previous reviews nails it down pretty well by saying "if this movie had been rewritten by a better writer, directed by a better director and recast, it would have been pretty good" Well, I think it would take much more then that but OK. Maybe, and just maybe, it could have been an average film. But come on guys.. What a disrespect for the viewers. How little effort can you possible have put in the creation of this horrible excuse for a movie. If I only could get those 85 minutes back.. Oh well.. At least Im not the one putting my name on the back of that piece of C**P