MEETING EVIL

     SAMUEL L. JACKSON  LUKE WILSON  LESLIE BIBB

JOHN FELTON (WILSON) HAS JUST BEEN FIRED FROM HIS JOB AS A REAL ESTATE AGENT, HAS BILLS PILING UP AND HIS HOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE FORECLOSED ON.  HE THINKS HIS DAY CAN'T GET ANY WORSE, BUT THEN IT DOES WHEN RICHIE (JACKSON) SHOWS UP AT HIS DOOR.  RICHIE TRICKS JOHN INTO GOING WITH HIM AND TAKES JOHN ON A WILD RIDE OF MAYHEM AND MURDER.  MEANWHILE, JOHN'S WIFE JOANIE (BIBB) HAS SOME SECRETS OF HER OWN THAT MAY BE RELATED TO RICHIE SHOWING UP.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVIES THAT LEADS YOU DOWN A PATH TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE ONE THING THEN AT THE END SUDDENLY CHANGES DIRECTION AND THE TRUTH TURNS OUT TO BE SOMETHING ELSE.  IN SOME MOVIES THIS CAN BE OKAY, BUT IN THIS MOVIE, THAT TRUTH CERTAINLY DOESN'T GEL WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE BIG REVEAL.  JACKSON'S CHARACTER IS EVIL IN THIS MOVIE, AND HE PLAYS IT JUST RIGHT SO IT'S A BIT CAMPY BUT VERY TERRIFYING WHEN NEEDED.  IT APPEARS THAT RICHIE'S MAIN GOAL IN THIS MOVIE IS TO FORCE JOHN INTO GROWING A BACKBONE.  THAT'S NOT TO SAY JOHN IS A WEAKLING, BUT HE DOES BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED BEFORE RESORTING TO VIOLENCE.  RICHIE DOESN'T SEE THINGS THAT WAY.  WILSON PLAYS JOHN CONVINCINGLY, ALTHOUGH AT TIMES HE SEEMS TO BE WHINING MORE THAN DISAGREEING WITH RICHIE. 
ONCE RICHIE SHOWS UP, THE DIRECTOR KEEPS THE PACE GOING RAPIDLY AND DOESN'T LET UP UNTIL THE END.  THE MOVIE IS VIOLENT BUT NOT REAL GORY OR BLOODY, AND WE SEE THE AFTERMATH OF THE KILLINGS BUT NOT THE ACTUAL DEED.  I WILL RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE JACKSON IS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH.
RATING  2.5 out of 5