Steineded
How sad is this?
FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Hattie
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
lartrak
It may look like a basic home invasion thriller from the description, but there's some interesting sub-text and generally good performances in the film.I won't rehash the plot details, but to begin the film is definitely worth a watch. It is well-acted, has an interesting mystery element to what is real, good shooting, and a number of interesting details. I like what happens with the woman in the final sequence involving the sheet. The use of positive and negative touching. The designs of the bad guys.Some technical details are smart too. This is the first film I've ever seen that has someone break a window quietly in a believable way. It's also one of the first lower budget films I've seen that gets technical details of firearms and responsible gun ownership correct (of course, it's evidently a Texas film, so I probably shouldn't be surprised). The flashback reveals are built up, and done well. The editing is solid.I will add there are some religious elements to the film, a bit involving faith and choices. I'm not religious, but I still feel these elements work well and are part of characterization in a way that I liked. Do I have any complaints? I guess I wish more could have been done to hide the puzzle mats (they basically are inexpensive mats useful to break falls when sparring, if you don't know). That's probably a budget issue more than anything though.So, why not a higher rating? I think a bit more oomph would have helped, in a way that is kind of hard to describe. Basically, the film feels small, in a way that would have been fine in a shorter movie but not in a 90 minute feature (film feels like it could have worked just as well in half the time, even though it's never boring). Just a little bit more would have been good. Compare it to You're Next, as an example. Very different film despite surface similarities, but You're Next has multiple conflict levels between different characters and successive resolutions of them. This film is basically a single character piece, and there isn't *quite* enough to the character and his conflicts for it to be 100% successful. Maybe a little more development with the wife and kids would have helped, a bit more going on there.I don't want to be too negative, as I quite liked the film and definitely recommend it.Good movie.
hero-11
Another very surprising Indie film! I'm a huge fan of martial arts/fight action! And these guys did a tremendous job shooting and executing tight, suspenseful action sequences inside of a solid film.The story is well crafted, keeps you one the edge of your seat, and moves really quickly. The camera work is very well done. The performances are very good. The thriller/horror elements are very well integrated and the film is laced with lots of symbolism. The fight stunts are great.A very ambitious film on an Indie scale, and the filmmakers excelled! Lots of twists and turns, a very fun ride! A really great Indie fight action/thriller!
tobyhubner
We live in France but have a place in the US in southern Arizona which is cartel territory and gun territory and my biggest fear when we go the US (I'm American) is...home invasion. I've outfitted the property with security cameras and we are entirely fenced in with entry gates and Cox Security but...you never know who is walking around, right? And do those cameras really stop anybody? In France we live in an apartment but in the US...Jees...in a house...there are so many ways to get in...so many windows...so The Cain Complex fed on all my paranoia and insecurity and gun fear with a bunch of hockey mask clad goons invading this guy's house and then a mind twisting blend of action, horror, thriller, altered reality and raw Ultimate type fighting scenes and I was crawling on the floor by the end of this movie...if you like horror if you like thriller (and great production value too a real rawness) then you will find this film entertaining...and riveting...just watch out that those rivets.
Holly Wood
Two things that I've always been very unsettled by are home invasions and losing my grip on reality. "The Cain Complex" expertly dives into both of these ideas.Mateo is a family man who suffers from PTSD, which stems from an incident with his brother. When a masked gang invades his home, he must step up to defend it before his family gets home and is put in harm's way.I expected a very straight forward story and was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. The movie is a surreal blend of thriller, horror, and martial arts. The fights look great and work well with the spot on cinematography. The masks (as seen on the poster) are terrifying. If a gang were to come to my house in those, I'd be found hiding under my bed or in the closet.I fully recommend "The Cain Complex". Watch it at night with a big bowl of popcorn.
