Frailty

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Frailty

R

2002

1h 40m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Set in present-day Texas, "Frailty" centers on the FBI's search for a serial killer who calls himself "God's Hands." McConaughey plays Fenton Meiks, a young man who approaches the lead investigator, one night, claiming he knows the identity of the killer. The FBI agent is curious, but unimpressed until Fenton reveals that the killer is his younger brother Adam. This is a film about faith, family and the end of innocence.

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Critics Consensus

Creepy and disturbing, Frailty is well-crafted, low-key horror.

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Jul 30, 2013

Paxton steals the show. And O'Leary more than holds his own again here. Too bad it's in a movie that fails to live up to its potential.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 24, 2010

2/5

Violent and ultimately uneven and unsatisfying.

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Robert Koehler

Variety

Nov 21, 2008

A resoundingly old-fashioned and well crafted study of evil infecting an American family, "Frailty" moves from strength to strength on its deceptive narrative course.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jul 28, 2026

... marvelously off-balance and under-the-skin creepy from the first few minutes.

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Joshua Ryan

FandomWire

Jul 19, 2025

8/10

It's incredibly effective in its execution and remains one of the most unnerving horror films of the 2000s.

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Cody Leach

Cody Leach (YouTube)

Mar 26, 2024

5/5

Frailty is a perfect exploration of childhood fear as it collides with religion. Bill Paxton's deliberately reserved direction makes the horror more effective in it's reliance on reactions and suggestion. Every twist delivers and sticks the landing!

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Hollis Q

@Hollisqueens 1 day ago

Frailty is a Southern Gothic nightmare where faith, family, and murder share the same dinner table. Bill Paxton delivers a chilling performance as a father who believes God has given him a mission, while Matthew McConaughey brings a quiet intensity to a story built on secrets and doubt. The real horror lies in the question at the heart of it all: what if the person who scares you most believes he’s saving the world? Dark, twisted, and packed with dread, this is a psychological thriller that makes you question every assumption and leaves you wondering who the real monster is.

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Oliver C

@OliverClose 3 days ago

Frailty is a dark tale of faith, family, and the terror of belief. Bill Paxton gives the film its troubled soul, both behind and in front of the camera. The writing keeps its secrets close and makes every act of violence carry a question. Is this a father obeying God, or a man losing his mind? The answer cuts deeper than the violence. Faith can save you. Faith can destroy you.

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Jake F

@jake222 Sep 12, 2026

It's not bad but just super lightweight for a horror movie.

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Nick O

@Nicki1985 Aug 27, 2026

When religious nuts claim to kill because “God told me to”, ya think they actually talked to god or are they just crazy? I guess we can never know. What we do know, is that Bill Paxton always kills it!

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Aug 26, 2026

Directed by and starring the late great Bill Paxton and with Matthew Mconaughey in a supporting role, Frailty is a treat and a really well made, coming of age horror.

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Donny W

@DonnyBlanco Aug 16, 2026

Must see thriller and mystery. Before Dexter, there was Bill Paxton and his magical weapons. Great directing by Paxton. One of my favourite under the radar movies, It holds my attention like Seven.

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Bill Paxton

Director

Bill Paxton

Dad

Matthew McConaughey

Adam Meiks

Powers Boothe

Agent Wesley Doyle

Matt O'Leary

Young Fenton Meiks

Luke Askew

Sheriff Smalls

Frailty: Official Clip - God Knew

2:50

Now Playing

Frailty: Official Clip - You Can't Escape God's Wrath

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Frailty: Official Clip - Killing a Brother

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Frailty: Official Clip - Fenton's First Victim

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Frailty: Official Clip - Sometimes Truth Defies Reason

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Frailty: Official Clip - The First Demon

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Frailty: Official Clip - A Vision From God

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Frailty: Official Clip - The List

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Frailty: Official Clip - You Gotta Believe Me!

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Frailty: Official Clip - The Promise

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Synopsis

Set in present-day Texas, "Frailty" centers on the FBI's search for a serial killer who calls himself "God's Hands." McConaughey plays Fenton Meiks, a young man who approaches the lead investigator, one night, claiming he knows the identity of the killer. The FBI agent is curious, but unimpressed until Fenton reveals that the killer is his younger brother Adam. This is a film about faith, family and the end of innocence.

Director: Bill Paxton
Producer: David Blocker, David Kirschner, Corey Sienega
Screenwriter: Brent Hanley
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: American Entertainment, David Kirschner Productions
Rating: R (Violence|Some Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.1M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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