Restraint: 2008 Thriller

Restraint (2008 Thriller)

Rated: R (violence, language, nudity, sexual content)

Availability: DVD

Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes

Restraint is billed as a psychological thriller about two young Australians, Ron (Travis Fimmel, TV’s “The Beast”) and Dale (Teresa Palmer, Bedtime Stories). The couple is on the run from the law. After some originally unnamed misdeed, that somehow got a body in the trunk of their car, the try to hideout in what they believe is an abandoned estate. Unfortunately for them, the estate is actually occupied by agoraphobic Andrew (Stephen Moyer, “True Blood”). After he is taken hostage, Andrew presents a plan for the couple’s escape. Of course, this plan requires Dale to change her appearance and mimic Andrew’s absent ex-fiancée, which sends Andrew down memory lane, both the pleasant and unpleasant paths. Dale’s change causes some great complications to the relationship triangle as Andrew starts to love her, she starts to fear Ron and Ron begins to get jealous of Andrew. Let the high jinks ensue!

The plot strolls along at a steady pace, offering interesting, if predictable, complications. We do learn a great deal more about the characters and tensions between them ebb and flow, making their relationships real and exciting. The typical twists to the ending are employed here, not to jaw dropping effect, but they are satisfying enough. The acting is solid from all three of the leads, particularly relative newcomer Palmer, who seems to slip in and out of her good girl/bad girl roles quite deftly. The set is deliberately bleak and starkly lit, adding to the tension and desperation of our main characters.

Overall Restraint is a solid thriller. It is not really remarkable in any way, but doesn’t really show any glaring weak spots, either. I was entertained and stayed interested in the plot and characters throughout the movie, which is, at least, a slight endorsement. If you are interested in your typical psychological thriller, Restraint is one that you should add to your stable. If these movies tend to frustrate or bore you, then it shouldn’t take too much restraint to avoid this one.

If you like: Fracture, Identity or Entrapment then you might like Restraint. (Although all of those movies are superior to it.)

I recommend you: Queue it

Grade: C+