After his brother committed suicide, Steve (James Marsden) and his family relocated to Cradle Bay on a peaceful Washington state island. As he acclimates to the new environment, he befriends a few outcasts (Nick Stahl and Katie Holmes) who tell him about the “Blue Ribbons”, a group of mostly jocks resembling a cult.

It turns out that a doctor has been experimenting with some brain reprogramming techniques to make the Blue Ribbons overcome their adolescent tendencies. After the procedure, they become perfect little brainwashed drones with the occasional homicidal episode.

The casting was great. James Marsden is an intense actor, Nick Stahl is versatile, and Katie Holmes can control a scene with her eyes. If only they had a better story to work with, it could have been a much more enjoyable exploration of their talents.

For a horror movie, it’s not very suspenseful or horrific. Worst of all, the music is unforgivably bad. We’re talking the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. I could take a shit on a guitar and get better sounds.

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