A cheap knockoff of Silence of the Lambs with nowhere near the depravity, horror, or intrigue it hopes to emulate.
The movie quickly shifts its focus onto Ally Walker's character, which would be fine if it wasn't at the expense of everyone else. Martin Sheen is relegated to a side note after about 20 minutes and Ron Perlman is only just in the movie. Everyone just seems to be standing around doing nothing while the new hotshot investigator plays mum to a young boy in a mental ward. There's far too much time spent with this boy and this is where the story falls down. Also, the casting of the boy is an unnecessary distraction so easily avoided. The story comes across as ill-thought-out and scatty. Ally walker's character is claustrophobic in sewers big enough to drive a car through, but not in a locked basement or mental wardroom? Why is the boy even locked away like a prisoner? Why has it taken the discovery of several child victim body parts for the police to take proper notice of several missing children?
The initial suspect is swiftly disposed of once he can't be used to mislead the audience and the conclusion to the movie borders on the ridiculous. In the end, it feels a long way off from its beginnings.
Review of When the Bough Breaks
