Review of The Pledge (2001) by Kevin M. W — 25 Aug 2014

Sean Penn directed this interesting story about the innate fear of ageing, wrapped inside of a murder mystery/hunt for a killer, with a tiny bit of "fuck you" to the culture that makes objects of women (whatever their age) on the side. Because it's Penn there's plenty of quality character actors here (it's a damned acting smorgasbord!), with actor showcase scenes (unnecessary for the story but allowing the actors to preen some) scattered about this not-much-more-than-a-CSI-episode-done-Hollywood-style of a film and therein is where the movie gets legs, gets up, and gets down.

The story presented however is as mean-spirited a thing I've seen outside of torture porn. Even the payoff at the feature's close is denied.

If you enjoy filmmaking designed to produce stomach upset, this is the work for you.