I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting was top-notch, the action was brutal yet captivating at the same time, and to make such an edge-of-your-seat thriller with such a simple plot is bravo in my book. As soon as the opening scene concludes it leaves you craving for more and the rest of the movie certainly delivers with an ending that satisfies. There's one particular scene in the movie that is definitely going to get under your skin (You'll know when you see it) and it will either make or break the movie. After I saw this scene I was on my feet cheering for the "good guy" wanting more and more. The only thing about the movie that was fairly annoying was the way the movie was being filmed, visually. Awkward camera angles and frizzy camera images left the movie annoying to watch at times, but fortunately id does not take away from the movie. All in all, if you have a solid stomach, crave an intriguing thriller without having to think much, this is your movie. Highly recommended.

RUNNING SCARED is a pretty interesting movie. It has its share of flaws, but it does offer something new, and is a lot different to the usual cops 'n' bad guys thriller that I was expecting. In many ways it's like a modern-day fairy tale, with lots of references to the classic stories of old (such as Hansel and Gretel) and a couple of characters facing bizarre and violent adventures during a single night.

First off, the good stuff: the cast is pretty hot, particularly Paul Walker, who gives a MUCH better performance than he does in the films he's best known for, the Fast and the Furious series. Similarly, Vera Farmiga can be guaranteed to deliver some strong acting, and the cast of various goons and bad guys are well picked. In addition, the film has a real Tarantino vibe to it; the direction is edgy and the violence explicit. The script isn't bad. Some of the direction is a little over the top and distracting in places, but for the most part it works.

The flaws are that it meanders slightly in places, and it also goes on for a little bit too long. The whole paedophile sub-plot, while being suspenseful, seems to belong in a different film altogether and really extends the running time. The ending is also rather predictable. But for the most part, this edgy and intriguing, and offers something different to the usual clichés we've come to expect from this genre.

The gangster Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is in charge of getting rid of the guns that killed dirty cops in a transaction of drugs between Italian mobsters and Afro-Americans. However, Joey hides the guns in the basement of his house instead of throwing in the river, and his ten years old son Nicky (Alex Neuberger) and his best friend Oleg Yugorsky (Cameron Bright) witness Joey hiding the gun. When Oleg's abusive stepfather Anzor Yugorsky (Karel Roden) beats his mother Mila (Ivana Milicevic),Oleg steals the weapon from the basement and shoots Anzor, running away home with the gun. Along the night, Joey, the Russian and the Italian mobster and the dirty cops chase the little boy trying to retrieve the gun and disclose who ordered the boy to shoot his stepfather.

"Running Scared" is a great surprise and pure action, recalling the style of "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs". The camera work is stylish and amazing, and the gore story in spite of having many clichés is engaging with great lines. Paul Walker is excellent in this type of role, and I particularly loved the scene of Teresa Gazelle (Vera Farmiga) with the two pornographers, when she calls 911. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "No Rastro da Bala" ("In the Tail of the Bullet")