As Good as Dead

2010 Mystery & Suspense

Three members of an extremist cult kidnap and torture a prominent photojournalist who they believe murdered their revered leader in this twisting psychological thriller starring Cary Elwes, Andie MacDowell, and Frank Whaley. The widow of late cult leader Reverend Kalahan, Helen (MacDowell) is determined to seek revenge against the man who murdered her husband. But in a tragic twist of fate Helen, her dangerously unstable son, Jake (Matt Dallas), and their sadistic enforcer, Aaron (Whaley), discover that they may have targeted the wrong man. The more the trio interrogates the terrified Ethan (Elwes), the more apparent it becomes that Helen, Jake, and Aaron may have escalated a situation that no one can walk away from untarnished. As Helen grows increasingly convinced of Ethan's innocence, cold-blooded killer Aaron vows to leave no witnesses, and attempts to manipulate Jake into taking his side. Meanwhile, Ethan's estranged wife, Kate (Nicole Ansari-Cox), attempts to call Ethan when he fails to pick up their ten-year-old daugther, Sarah (Emma Kantor), at the predetermined time, and drives to his apartment to confront him personally. more..

Director: Jonathan Mossek

Starring: Andie MacDowell, Cary Elwes,Frank Whaley, Matt Dallas, Nicole Ansari

Reviews

  • Several varieties of creepy run through As Good as Dead, a gruesomely alluring tale of long-simmering revenge.

    Neil Genzlinger - The New York Times

    29 November 2012

  • A rote captivity drama with aspirations of sociopolitical relevance, As Good as Dead has nothing to say about torture or racism and little excitement to offer as compensation.

    John DeFore - The Hollywood Reporter

    29 November 2012

  • A muddled script, spatially confounding direction and four thesps seemingly acting in four different movies are only a few of the problems with the misbegotten political thriller As Good as Dead.

    Ronnie Scheib - Variety

    29 November 2012

  • It's hardly worth slogging through a full hour of unexplained bondage and a so-bombastic-it-seems-sarcastic score, only to be rewarded with a plea for tolerance that's both insincere and inept.

    Eric Hynes - Time Out New York

    29 November 2012

  • Several varieties of creepy run through As Good as Dead, a gruesomely alluring tale of long-simmering revenge.

    Neil Genzlinger - The New York Times

    19 January 2013

Awards

No awards