...pretender to the throne of films like "Winter's Bone," this predictable thriller from writer/director Mark "The Killing Jar" Young and his regular cinematography collaborator Gregg "Ditto" Easterbrook isn't a terrible watch, but it's a dispensable one. The cast does well enough with their roles (although Sean "LotR" Bean seems a bit bored with it all), Easterbrook's DP work is at times quite beautiful, and I'm not really faulting Young's direction. Nonetheless, nothing really quite jells; I couldn't manage to buy into this world of backwoods meth labs and a pretty little thing who would settle for ten bucks a pop to be a drug mule. If you're a fan of any of the actors, I suppose it's not going to embarrass any of them too much, but this is one of those films that you're going to forget almost as soon as you've finished viewing it.

Hannah Lee Baker (Abigail Breslin) is an orphan who lives with her meth head uncle Donny (Lew Temple) and flirty sister Amber (Alexa PenaVega). Meth manufacturing and dealing is the family business run by Uncle Frank (Sean Bean) a strip club owner. Hannah likes to play chess with Billy who was once state champion. She recites poetic metaphors about chess pieces and how they relate to her life.

Frank is the powerful King who has people in his way killed. Hannah forces her way into the business as a delivery person, but inadvertently cause problems between Frank and the biker customers when she cuts the meth with vitamin D. At some point in time, Hannah must choose between family and getting out.

The supporting cast was great. Abigail Breslin was not convincing in the lead role. The chess metaphor was a flop. The poetic readings were simply horrible.

A fair action/drama/thriller rental.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, nudity (Claire Frederiksen)

This one is better than I guessed it would be. Sean Bean makes a great Louisiana crime lord - southern accent and all! :)

8.5/10