Thanks for the memories!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Blistering performances.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

a family crisis. two strangers. the past as start point for intense confrontation. one of films who could be only a nice try for define the impact of difficulties to assume family values. and only a strange pressure saves the situation. it is one of films who propose characters more than a story. and the characters are only senders of words, accusation, victims of the circle of personal interests. each actor does a decent work and the effort of Victor Salva to give a coherent picture of fight,force of danger,the sentimental derive, confession and the expected verdict is OK. and the basic virtue is the reassembles with a Tchekov play. same need of truth, vulnerabilities, wrong options and the flavor of end. same game of words for protect fragile position. so, a decent drama.

I have been spoiled by watching non-American movies. I used to say European movies, but movies from South America, some parts of Asia, and even Mexico are now as good as European movies. What movies from other countries often have that American movies almost never have is subtlety. Whether it's comedy, drama, suspense, sex, or any other genre, American movie makers assume American audiences have to be hit over the head with whatever they're watching or they won't get it.In this movie, for example, when Son catches Dad with Girlfriend in Hotel, then when Dad and Son catch Younger Gay Son in Cabin, EVERYBODY has to overact, so that the audience will be sure to get the point that bad stuff is happening. Why, oh why does Hollywood think we're stupid? Is it because we are? Maybe. In any case, this movie's drama is far too heavy-handed for me.In less than ten minutes, I already know everything there is to know about these three characters, and I'm willing to bet the "twists" other reviewers rave about are the same oh-so-predictable "twists" Hollywood has been delighting noise-deafened, brain-dulled audiences with since Witness for the Prosecution 60 years ago. I'd much rather have to take time and figure out for myself what's going on between characters than be hit so hard by the director and actors with such a heavy drama hammer that it leaves me reeling and nauseous.

This movie is unusual in the way that it has an all-male cast.That aspect of the movie drives the mood and intensity from beginning to end.I thought the father's (Dean Stockwell) turn-around in feelings to be genuinely believable as the film's events cause him to re-evaluate what and who are most important in his life.James Remar delivers a wonderfully increasingly sinister performance in this film. Although we've seen him in so many roles. He normally doesn't have a character as expanded as this and you get to see what he's really capable of.And lastly, but not leastly, Jason Behr shines as poor confused and bereft Campbell. He's made so many poor decisions, and yet you just want to put your arms around him and say that everything will be all right.If you thought Max Evans (Roswell) would always be your favorite character for Jason Behr, Campbell will make you think twice.This movie is definately a drama. If you are looking for something light and funny, save this movie for another night. If the big box office movies have been leaving you flat lately, this independent movie is a good one to restore your faith that great acting-not a big budget-is what makes a movie really good.

I liked Victor Salva's film -Powder- a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised when I watched -Rites of Passage-. It's a competently made thriller, but the real intent of the film, as writer-direction Salva says in the commentary, was to work out his own difficult issues with his step father. This is accomplished with Dean Stockwell as a hard macho father, and Jason Behr as his estranged gay son.Jason Behr's performance is remarkable for such a young actor. I hope this young man moves beyond the TV series and does more serious film acting. Behr and Salva do the DVD commentary which adds to my impression of Behr as an exceptionally intelligent person, often humbled by Salva's praise in the course of the story. Stockwell's performance is also excellent, as we would expect.