The Texas Killing Fields

[sharky]

I read this post from IMDb and I thought this was spot-on with criticism over this movie.

I agree with a lot of of the reviews I've read which say there was the potential for a really good movie in here somewhere but it just didn't quite come off. As far as I can figure out, the main problem is that the final movie deviated in crucial ways from the script and was butchered in the editing room to try and cover up the 3rd act twist and the reveal of the identity of Little Anne's abductors.

From the confusing opening onwards, it feels as if huge chunks of vital exposition have been left on the cutting room floor. Many scenes appear to have been shifted around from script to screen. For example, the scene in which Rhino and Eugene are driving in the van with Little Anne and Rhino attacks Eugene : in the original script, that was the first scene in the movie.

Also, did anyone else notice that when Mike and Brian interview the two teenage girls at the shelter, Brian seems to already have the bruises on his face which he doesnt actually receive until a later scene during the chase when the runaway rapist hits him with a shovel? Further evidence of the structural tampering which went on with this movie in the editing room.

I suspect that Ami and her editors bent the story out of shape to try and delay the reveal of the third act twist as long as possible to the audience. A big mistake, since the twist was glaringly obvious to begin with, even in the original script, and didn't need to be the focus of the story.

I can think of a few good examples of thrillers where a minor background character is revealed to be the killer in a way which doesn't feel laboured (Michael Rooker in Sea of Love springs to mind). Unfortunately Texas Killing Fields just couldn't pull it off.

A well-intentioned debut Ami, but you shot yourself in the foot with confusing editing on multiple occasions. I can't believe that your dad - the great Michael Mann, who produced this movie - didn't step in and make some sense of it. Back to film school for you :/

[Dan Wilshire]

Well that explained it all Good find Sharky

[HitGirlRulez]

I actually loved this film! It was very tense and had a great story, but the thing I love most about it is the character development between the 4 leads. All outstanding performances, btw! Every new year I make a top 10 from the prior year, and TKF topped mine for 2011! In case you're interested, here is my list.

10. Hatchet II
9. 30 Minutes Or Less
8. Captain America: The First Avenger
7. Paul
6. X-Men: First Class
5. The Ward
4. Hugo
3. Red State
2. Super
1. Texas Killing Fields

[avada]

I'm sure i could find it on the net if i tried, but if the DVD comes out in january, I suppose i can wait till then.

January??? Not too long away i guess. Kicking myself having missed it at the movies

HAH! It will be released here in theaters in february... One would think they goal is to fuel "piracy".

[LoveHurts]

I think it was the first time I cried watching a movie...

The ending is so unbearably melancholic. Ann in the passenger's seat... staring at the horizon...making waves in the air...her family is dead...

And the song...oh the song...

Will she be happy in her new home? Will she be able to live a normal life?

[avada]

I think it was the first time I cried watching a movie...

The ending is so unbearably melancholic. Ann in the passenger's seat... staring at the horizon...making waves in the air...her family is dead...

And the song...oh the song...

Will she be happy in her new home? Will she be able to live a normal life?

For me Let Me In was way more emotional.

[LoveHurts]

I think it was the first time I cried watching a movie...

The ending is so unbearably melancholic. Ann in the passenger's seat... staring at the horizon...making waves in the air...her family is dead...

And the song...oh the song...

Will she be happy in her new home? Will she be able to live a normal life?

For me Let Me In was way more emotional.

I wasn't in love yet when I saw Let Me In. When I saw The Texas Killing Fields I had just fallen for Chloe.I think that made all the difference...

But I did feel that heaviness in the chest when Owen looked outside the window and saw Abby getting in the cab...He was certain he would never see her again...

[justinodunn]

Texas Killing Fields was boring I have to say... However, I think Chloe did really good in the movie. I wonder, how come she barely mentions anything about this movie in her interviews?

[marcel]

Maybe this movie hasn't got such a big resonance like other movies. A few weeks after "Texas Killing Fields" "Hugo" came out and all attention to Chloë was about "Hugo".

[sharky]

Texas Killing Fields was boring I have to say... However, I think Chloe did really good in the movie. I wonder, how come she barely mentions anything about this movie in her interviews?

With the generally poor reception of it she may just want to sweep it under the rug. And like Marcel said, she has bigger and more popular projects to go on about.

I don't think Texas Killing Fields was horrible by any means, just painfully average. As far as crime dramas go, there's not much reason to pay attention to Texas Killing Fields unless you're a particular fan of the actors/actresses.