I'll watch almost anything if Jennifer Jason Leigh is in it, and not just because she gets her kit off a lot; she's a great actress and usually elevates anything she appears in. But we all have our off days, and even Jen cannot save this Southern gothic horror from mediocrity.
Leigh plays Lucy Bonnard, mentally fragile younger sister of Charlotte (Judith Ivey); together, the siblings run a guest house in the Louisiana swamps. When dashing young businessman Matt Rutledge (Eric Stoltz) arrives at the house, he seduces Lucy, which annoys Charlotte, whose own relationship with sheriff Cleve Doucet (Dennis Lipscomb) is on the rocks, and angers Lucy's childhood friend and admirer Etienne (Benjamin Mouton).
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Matt is up to no good, but what is his reason for stirring up trouble for the Bonnard sisters?
Admittedly, the mystery is fairly engaging and develops satisfactorily, ending with a neat supernatural twist, but there is still something off about the whole film. It's difficult to pinpoint precisely what it was that didn't click for me, but there is definitely something awkward about the performances and direction. Lovely Jennifer does take her clothes off though, so there is that.
Leigh plays Lucy Bonnard, mentally fragile younger sister of Charlotte (Judith Ivey); together, the siblings run a guest house in the Louisiana swamps. When dashing young businessman Matt Rutledge (Eric Stoltz) arrives at the house, he seduces Lucy, which annoys Charlotte, whose own relationship with sheriff Cleve Doucet (Dennis Lipscomb) is on the rocks, and angers Lucy's childhood friend and admirer Etienne (Benjamin Mouton).
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Matt is up to no good, but what is his reason for stirring up trouble for the Bonnard sisters?
Admittedly, the mystery is fairly engaging and develops satisfactorily, ending with a neat supernatural twist, but there is still something off about the whole film. It's difficult to pinpoint precisely what it was that didn't click for me, but there is definitely something awkward about the performances and direction. Lovely Jennifer does take her clothes off though, so there is that.