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Grind Me In The Water

Matt Sobel's debut feature "Take Me to the River", is a film of extremes. It has moments that are utterly gripping. Unfortunately, some of its characters behave in ways that make absolutely no sense, unless they are supposed to be really stupid or insane. One of those has to be the case, yet I think we are supposed to believe that they are damaged and that this should explain incredibly illogical behavior. Some will no doubt accept this as the premise. I couldn't.

The setting is an extended family reunion in rural Nebraska. The Los Angeles contingent, consisting of the father, Don (Richard Schiff), the mother, Cindy (Robin Weigert), and their son, Ryder (Logan Miller), is in a car and there is already great strife because Ryder has recently come out to his parents. They are fine with it, but would prefer that he keeps this news to himself at the family reunion. He disagrees.

When the family poses for a group photo, it's apparent just how much Ryder sticks out. Everyone is dressed how you might expect at a Nebraska farm gathering. Ryder is wearing bright red short-shorts and equally bright yellow sunglasses.

Cindy's brother, Keith (Josh Hamilton), has four pre-pubescent daughters who immediately take to Ryder. They all seem to have a crush on him. Molly (Ursula Parker), the oldest, has it bad. She takes Ryder to the barn, where she behaves like a young seductress. Soon afterwards she runs screaming from the barn, her dress bloodied. She has had her first period despite being only nine. Then it all gets really weird.

So much of "Take Me to the River" is compelling and believable, but some parts make no sense. At different times, Ryder, his parents, and his uncle do things that make no sense or don't do things that any normal human being would do. The big secret revealed at the end is pretty shocking, but expecting that to explain everything that preceded it isn't good enough. Sobel shows promise with "Take Me to the River", but I couldn't help feeling like I had been taken for a ride.