I just got back from watching Law Abiding Citizen today and I must say that this was one intense thriller. Director Gary Gray doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel in suspense and unadulterated gore, but it isn’t quiet textbook either. Law Abiding Citizen stars our new action hero Gerard Butler and Oscar winning actor Jaime Foxx in a gripping and suspensful action thriller. I totally recommend seeing it.

Gerard Butler plays a successful inventor, Clyde Shelter, with a loving wife and child until one fateful night he becomes victim to a violent serial burglary, and lives to watch his family brutally murdered in front of him. Nick Rice, played by Jaime Foxx as the prosecutor who serves Shelton, fails to serve the justice Shelton feels is deserved due to lack of sufficient evidence. Butler then dedicates the next decade not only fulfill vengeance against those that destroyed his life and family, but also against the failing justice system that let them get away.

The movie starts with very a quick and strong take off on the night of the attack where Shelton is in a scene with his daughter spending time together. A knock on the door brings Shelton to meet his life’s turning point as he is bludgeoned, tied and stabbed by perpetrator Clarence Hardy and an accomplice. Hardy ties up his wife, rape and kills her in front of him. The scene is heart wrenching and infuriating to me, as a father, and immediately involved me to the movie emotionally. One style I am beginning to favor in newer movies today. I don’t like too much back story unless its absolutely crucial to the ending. Law Abiding Citizen takes you for a ride so you remain as involved in “what will happen next” as the the characters.

Ten years later Shelton lures Hardy, captures him and tortures him to death. At this point the movie is only warming itself up to the real story. Hardy’s horrifying murder lands Shelton in prison at which point Shelton now controls the entire plot in a role that is simply terrifying. Countless lives of government officials are lost at Shelton’s will, in a twisted and ingenious plan to take the Justice system apart and exploit it as a broken system that allows murderers to walk, all the while Shelton is locked away in his prison cell.

Butler’s character rings of Hannibal Lecter-esc demeanor who controls Nick Rice to give him what he wants while in prison, or he will kill more people. Nick Rice works to find a way to stop Shelton, while Shelton always remains two steps ahead of everyone.

I am happy to have seen this movie in the theater as it was way worth watching at (and sneaking our own candy into). This movie is rated R and I would not recommend letting your children see it, like one guy with a rat tail had two kids no older than 7 years old watch it with him and his wife. Did I mention he had a friggin rat tail? Anyway, leave the kids at home and go see Law Abiding Citizen.

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