Novelist Eric Shapiro's directorial debut is an engrossing thriller mystery which reminded me a bit of a David Lynch movie. There are three different stories that intertwine and keep you guessing as to what direction the film will take. The first is about a father, Jon, who is desperate to find out what happened to his daughter, Lo, who has disappeared for two weeks. He keeps on going back to the cheap motel where she was last seen. Then we cut to two weeks previously, with Lo (Rhoda Jordan) and her boyfriend at the hotel. They've decided they want to do a bit of sexual exploration with a threesome and the boyfriend manages to track down an old friend (Tiffany Shepis), who eagerly shows up. Then there's the overweight, nervous business man who had checked out the motel room prior to them--and he's all set to drug and rape a woman co-worker who he is soon expecting. However, the drug dealer (Rodney Eastman) he's bought the "roofies" from wants to stick around and have a go at her as well. All three stories have an unexpected twist and don't turn out how any of the characters want them to.
RULE OF THREE is one of the best independent movies I have seen in the last few years, with great performances by all the actors. I felt like I was a voyeur watching real people rather than characters in a movie-- and that's no easy thing to accomplish. This makes my "Top Ten List of 2008". Highly recommended
Novelist Eric Shapiro's directorial debut is an engrossing thriller mystery which reminded me a bit of a David Lynch movie. There are three different stories that intertwine and keep you guessing as to what direction the film will take. The first is about a father, Jon, who is desperate to find out what happened to his daughter, Lo, who has disappeared for two weeks. He keeps on going back to the cheap motel where she was last seen. Then we cut to two weeks previously, with Lo (Rhoda Jordan) and her boyfriend at the hotel. They've decided they want to do a bit of sexual exploration with a threesome and the boyfriend manages to track down an old friend (Tiffany Shepis), who eagerly shows up. Then there's the overweight, nervous business man who had checked out the motel room prior to them--and he's all set to drug and rape a woman co-worker who he is soon expecting. However, the drug dealer (Rodney Eastman) he's bought the "roofies" from wants to stick around and have a go at her as well. All three stories have an unexpected twist and don't turn out how any of the characters want them to.
