Point Defiance A well-crafted, punchy, psychological thriller with two outstanding performances at its center, Point Defiance can be forgiven for its predictable yet profoundly affecting ending. Peter (Derek Phillips) is a stockbroker under house arrest in a remote farmhouse deep in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Anchored by his ankle bracelet, he dares not venture beyond an invisible barrier outside. Supplies are left at his door by unseen deliverers, and he sticks to a daily regimen of exercise, grooming, and moving digital fortunes around via phone and computer. We don't know what Peter did to warrant his stay-at-home punishment, but the film's writer-director, Justin Foia, begins indirectly prodding our concerns with steady references on local television to a missing woman. Peter's routines and hibernation are blown to bits by the arrival of his brother, Alex (Josh Crotty), on leave from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Over several days, Alex becomes more unhinged, especially after a prostitute (Lauren Elaine) spends a night with both men, and the brothers' brutal family history is discussed. Saying any more here would be unfair, but Foia certainly has a lot on his plate making sure individual scenes square with others so that a final logic descends over a complex tale. Stylistically lean and taut, Point Defiance has the feel of a Jim Thompson novel in its inexorable colliding with a mad reckoning. Helping Foia mightily are remarkable performances by Crotty and Phillips, who slowly rake things to a boil, and then sustain it. Strongly recommended.
Point Defiance
Point Defiance
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