Sam Worthington and Lily Rabe star in the mind-bending Fractured, which makes its global premiere on Netflix on Friday, October 11th, 2019.
‘Tis the season to be miserable! Driving through snow-covered farmlands to get to their Thanksgiving destination, recovering alcoholic Ray (Worthington: Avatar 2009, Man on a Ledge 2012) and his wife Joanne (Rabe: No Reservations 2007, American Horror Story series) are arguing while their little daughter Peri (Lucy Capri: Cutie Cubies series, Queen America series) plays in the backseat. When they decide to cool down and stop to use the facilities at a nearby rest area, a tragic accident happens and the little girl is injured, sending the family to the nearest emergency room.
As with most ERs, this one has no sense of urgency and the employees show little compassion or concern for their patients. However, after being sent away for further testing, Peri and Joanne completely vanish and all records of their visit disappear. For a man who would do anything for his family, the spiraling situation turns into Ray’s desperate race to locate his wife and daughter and discover the truth of what happened to them.
Clocking in at 99 minutes and rated TV-MA, Fractured was directed by Brad Anderson (Session 9 2001, Stonehearst Asylum 2014) and written by Alan McElroy (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers 1988, Spawn 1997). The film also features the acting talents of Stephen Tobolowsky (Spaceballs 1987, Single White Female 1992), Adjoa Andoh (Invictus 2009, National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses 2016), Lauren Cochrane (The Pinkertons series, I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story TV movie 2019), Stephanie Sy (Colour of Scar Tissue mini-series, The Grudge 2020), Erik Athavale (Sunnyside series, Breakthrough 2019), Dorothy Carroll (Todd and the Book of Pure Evil series, Menorca 2016), and more.
A Psychological Thriller that will make you think you are losing your mind, Fractured sets a somber mood with its muted colors, drab hospital atmosphere, and some stunningly grim cinematography from Björn Charpentier (About the Boy Who Ate an Oakwood Chair 2016, Beirut 2018). Heavy on warping its plot to keep viewers engrossed and sympathetic to its main character, the film is a wonderfully done example of psychological thrills and a splendid addition to Netflix.
Much of this is thanks to the film’s star, Worthington, who does a phenomenal job of embodying the panic, fear and paranoia of losing your family and being utterly confused as to how to find them. The more time that drags on and the more hospital personnel who dismiss his concerns, Worthington perfectly depicts the exhaustion, frustration, and terror of being trapped in a downward spiral with the lives of your loved ones hanging in the balance. Sooner or later everybody falls, and Worthington paints the picture of a man gripping onto his precarious sanity with an elegance that makes Ray sympathetic and relatable.
Rabe gives an equally impressive performance, though she receives less screen time than her co-star. Depicting a frustrated wife who is at the end of her rope, but a loving and gentle mother, Rabe solidly holds her role down and allows Worthington to shine as he breaks down on screen. And, of course, the true star of the film is little Capri, an absolutely adorable young actress who, much like the character she depicts, is likely to be adored by all. Her arm is fractured, her parents marriage could be fractured, and she provides the launching pad for this entire twisted journey through the mind of one panic-stricken father.
All of this said, to be honest, fans of the Psychological Thriller are likely to deduce the ending to this flick before they even sit down to watch—but that doesn’t keep the ride from being a fully enjoyable if stress-inducing one. Beautifully shot and with a splendid cast, Fractured offers enough to its viewers to be worth the time spent enjoying a chilling ride on the couch. For this, Cryptic Rock give Fractured 4 of 5 stars.
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