I will start by saying: Don't go see this movie because it is bad. I don't mean bad as in naughty, violent, obsene, gory, etc. (which it is coincidentally). I mean bad as in poor film making. The script is messy and discombobulated; the message of the film is clouded by unnecessary side plots and dialogue. Richard Dutcher has delivered powerful films in the past, and I believe he is a talented film maker. He is, however, not a talented actor. I agree with Jeff Vice in that Dutcher could not carry the heavy material of the film. For me, he was totally unconvincing. The violence and language seemed superfluous and done merely for the shock factor. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Dutcher's previous films. I respect his views on religion, spirituality and life. And I respect him for making a film that is "personal" to him. But a film that is so very personal, may make it difficult for anyone else to connect with it or be compelled by it. This was certainly the case for me. Who is the target audience for this movie?? I don't know of anybody that this would appeal to. There were some good things about the movie. The acting was very good outside of Dutcher. And some elements of Dutcher's amazingly acute artistic vision shined through in several scenes. All faith is not lost in Dutch. I look forward to his future work. I just hope all of his fans, including myself, can put this mess behing us.

Hopefully, at some point in Mr.Dutcher's life he will come to realize that his childhood 'good guy/bad guy' scenerios he does have been done to death. For someone that has critized so harshly other filmakers for 'doing the same story over and over'..he'd better take a looking glass at himself. Violence is one thing...gore is another..did he never attend a film school that said do less so the audience could invision the gore themselves? And to make a film that 'your happy with' is fine...but to an empty theatre that I sat in last friday night with 10 people in the audience..I'd say unless your wealthy and don't need any backers you have a real problem..especially when two ladies were going to the restroom so they could 'throw up' at the ending. The really sad thing is Mr. Dutcher has talent..I'd love to see him 'try' another medium...maybe comedy..oh, no wait..he thinks that's a waste of time and talent...so is this Mr. Dutcher...so is this!

This may come across as sour grapes from another Mormon filmmaker who hasn't raised the money yet for his follow-up film, but I must say my peace. I know Richard has a tough skin. Richard's very talented and I consider him a friend. But friends give friends tough love: The billboard he has on I-15 makes his letter last April renouncing Mormon Cinema seem like a PR stunt to stay relevant in the press. What cracks me up is this: Richard releases a statement handing over Mormon Cinema to "the Mormons" yet eight months later he's back with (as the billboard reads) "the first R-Rated Mormon movie." So, he's done with Mormon Cinema, but he's okay with marketing the next one to Mormons through the most sensationalist "look, it's rated R so it's EDGY!" approach? I agree that casting himself was a mistake. He's too close to the project to be able to keep his usually good acting in check. "Falling" is a humorless, desperate attempt to look cool on-screen. I understand Dutcher's need to be cool. I've never been cool, but ah, in my dreams I'm Harrison Ford. So here's to living your dreams, but if you never laugh at yourself, everyone else will do the job for you. And Dutcher has forgotten the art of Comic Relief in a film (even 'Hamlet' had comedy. And no, Richard, I don't mean characters laughing on screen, I mean something actually funny.) I respect him for making something personal and challenging--that's what independent film is all about---but artistic? Is the "edgy-equals-art" mentality artistic? Why buy into that? If you can't cast a cold eye on your work, then you're bound to leave (even art-house) audiences just as cold. Nathan Smith Jones

Walked out of the theater feeling like I'd been psychologically bludgeoned. Very disappointed in Richard Dutcher with this one, ugly and violent film.