Portrays the family patriarch as a psychotic, menacing Vietnam veteran whose war trauma has manifested into a reign of terror. Reviewers note he is effectively brutal, though some critics at Variety felt his character lacked a vulnerable "hint of understanding."
The film's greatest strength lies in its cast, particularly a young Ryan Phillippe in what many consider one of his strongest early career roles . Little Boy Blue(1997)
Plays the compliant wife with a mystique and verve that captures the anxiety of living under constant fear. Narrative and Tone Portrays the family patriarch as a psychotic, menacing