Overview: On September 12, 1994, in the rural town of Smith Haven, Washington, a call was placed to 9-1-1. When police arrived at the scene of the crime, what they discovered was in fact the most horrific and disturbing crime they had ever encountered ...

Verdict: 'Frayed' begins in 1994, with an innocent looking video of a child's birthday celebration. We see family and guests engaged in typical, lighthearted games indoors and out. But as we continue to watch, it is with the creeping suspicion that all is not what it seems in this family. At one point, unprovoked, Kurt (the oddly dour birthday boy) slaps at his dad with his new baseball bat and shows no remorse for his behavior.

Later in this sequence, we follow Kurt into the house. Uncertain about what the focus of the story will be, we are not prepared for the events that quickly unfold. Soon the film makes good on its promise of an act that is more than horrific--and it is presented in a sustained frame, so you are not allowed the respite of a cutaway or looking from a different angle. [Note the warning on this site: The violence is graphic.] It is an act brutal enough to thrust Kurt and his family--led by his father, Pat Baker, who is the town sheriff--into a nightmare from which they will never emerge.

Kurt is sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he remains into adulthood. Sheriff Baker begins the arduous task of picking up the pieces of his life in the aftermath of this profound and traumatic event. Gradually the community comes to terms, and life goes on for thirteen years.

The news that the adult Kurt has escaped from the hospital sends shock waves through the town. Sheriff Baker prepares for the worst, and a hospital security guard, Gary, sets off to find Kurt before he crosses paths with any of the locals. Meanwhile Baker tries to reach his daughter, Sara, who has taken off to the woods on a camp-out with friends. In a twist of fate, Kurt becomes aware of Gary's efforts and begins tracking him with murderous intent, leaving plenty of collateral damage.

Frayed takes inspiration from (and pays homage to) many classic films in the psycho killer sub-genre, but its narrative avoids clichés and has a driving force all its own. The style fuses the momentum of stalk and slash with the eerie physical beauty of more ghostly horror films.

There are several dramatic twists, but the story is so well constructed that none of these manages to derail the plot. With each development a deeper level of the story is revealed, until the final scene delivers one great slap that knocks theory and jaded expectation right out of the viewer. Lazy audience members might scratch their heads, but if you've been paying attention, the pay-off is terrific. Even if you figure out part of the conclusion with the clues scattered throughout, you won't guess how it all fits together until the very last moment.

Believable and committed acting from the entire cast adds plausibility. Tony Doupé, Aaron Blakely and Jeanette Maus deserve special mention for their standout contributions. [SPM] This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the following Special Features:

Audio commentary with screenwriter Kurt Svennungsen and directors Rob Portmann and Norbert Caoili
Pushing the Edge: The Making-of Frayed featurette
A View to a Kill: Making the Head Bash for Frayed featurette
Inside Quantum: The Post Production of Frayed featurette
Trailers