Devastated by an unspeakable tragedy while on the job as a hostage negotiator for the LAPD, Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis) resigns and accepts a low-profile job as the chief of police in the sleepy town of Bristo Camino in Ventura County. On a slow Monday morning Jeff's job becomes anything bug quiet and sets him on a course that could change not only his professional but personal life forever. When three delinquent teenagers follow a family home intending to steal their car, they get more then they bargained for. The trio finds themselves trapped in a multi-million-dollar compound on the outskirts of town with no way to escape. Panicked, they take the family hostage, placing Talley in a situation that he never wanted to face again. He is forced to take on a role he abandoned where the stakes quickly evolve into a hostage situation far more volatile and terrifying than anything he could ever imagine.

Dark and suspenseful the movie takes you on a ride that will not only thrill you but also disturb you all at the same time. Most of the characters are truly one dimensional from the sociopath to the once superb cop who know finds himself in the same situation he moved so that he would not have to face moments like these. While this takes away from the film a little bit, it is hard to root for anyone when the characters aren’t rich or deep, the movie was still entertaining enough to keep you glued to your seat. The character you end up rooting for the movie isn’t the one you think you would be cheering for as it is the son and a hostage, not the kidnappers or Bruce Willis character. The movie is action packed and filled with enough twists that it will keep you entertained though, all the while doing nothing that will be very memorable.

Bruce Willis is a fine actor sometimes you have to wonder why he gets trapped into roles like this, at least in Die Hard John McClane just had a level of cool that just made you sit back and take notice. Sue Willis puts in a good performance but he is limited by a somewhat weak script that does not allow him to flex his acting skills. Kevin Pollak steals the movie at points as he truly captures the sociopathic nature of a madman that just wreaks havoc throughout the movie. The ending really put these psychotic tendencies into full light as everything comes to a head. The movie is good and enjoyable but it is also easily forgotten and will disappear amongst a landscape of movies that have done it better.
3.5 stars out of 5