Stray Bullets

Though this suspense drama about two small-town youths who run afoul of fleeing big-city criminals feels a couple story beats short of a satisfying whole, it's admirably well-crafted within its mostly savvy limitations.

The auteur's age, precociousness and pedigree automatically make "Stray Bullets" an item of interest, although fans of the Fessenden clan will be pleased to know that the movie's also pretty entertaining and only a little bit amateurish.

Mr. Fessenden's ambition is admirable, and there's more than a little raw skill on display. If this, his first feature, isn't always worth recommending, his talents are certainly worth encouraging.

Fessenden is literally sixteen years old - it's impossible not to give the film kudos for being a not-bad genre exercise that shows promise for its precocious director.

An enjoyably blood-soaked thriller with unexpectedly lyrical interludes -- made very much in the shadow of classic genre forebears and on what was clearly a constrained budget -- this is a strikingly impressive calling-card.

Some nice atmospheric touches are hardly warranted by the film's threadbare substance.

The young Fessender has his own voice, and develops a strong enough sense of place and tone that even the many walking scenes don't feel like padding.

What distinguishes Stray Bullets from so many other low-budget crime films is Jack Fessenden's sense of quietness.