thinker1691 Two men, Trygve A. Diesen and Lucky McKee have taken writer Jack Ketchum's endearing novel and created an equally touching movie. What's surprisingly interesting is Brian Cox, an established actor who is known for his more boisterous, authoritarian and commanding roles gives a superb tour-de-force, in this film. Playing retired gentleman Avery Ludlow who's quiet peaceful and uneventful life is interrupted by the senseless killing of his beloved pet dog. The dog's name " RED " is also the title of this story which is about a trio of cold hearted teen-age boys who are responsible for the murderous act. Mr. Ludlow hopes the boys will eventually grow up and confess to the crime, but is disappointed when they don't and instead take shelter in a wealthy father's powerful status and influence. He is therefore prompted to seek justice on his own. The movie is all about his gallant efforts. In addition the audience will be deeply impressed by the acclaimed performance given by Brian Cox. After watching him and the other cast members such as Noel Fisher, Tom Sizemore and Robert Englund, one will conclude this is one great film which should earn it, a special place among the modern Classics. ****

marymorrissey I was going along with this movie fine enough for awhile but when it gets to the point that old Avery gives this insane back story about his 2 sons... it completely fell apart. For one thing, why would someone tell the reporter he has two sons, not he HAD two sons who luridly left this planet? Second, why would this guy idiotically keep pushing, involving the innocent brother of the psychopathic kid (and father) with his own experience to show him how little it might take to endanger that boy's life? It makes no sense at all unless he's as sick as the bad guys! And then the fact that it winds up with him learning his lesson, "Two boys are dead. I couldn't let it go!" Yeah and you knew full well before just as you do now that this is what probably could happen!!! Blah... This story was just bull... At least Angela Bettis wasn't involved, but she's in the next one... Sad to see someone so righteous and talented having to take this kind of work!!! :(

p-stepien Avery Ludlow (Brian Cox) lives a quiet and semi-secluded life. All the joy that is left in this world after the deaths of his wife and children is firmly placed in the paws of a lovable old dog named Red. Splitting time between his store and fishing Avery leads a peaceful, if uneventful life. All that is good must come to an end... or there would be no movie.Whilst out fishing with Red as his sole companion he encounters three youths hunting for animals with a brand new rifle. Avery is quick to give a few pointers out to the kids, but their leader Danny (Noel Fisher) is frustrated by being tutored by the old man. This results in Danny attempting to steal from Avery, but when this turns out to be fruitless he decides to shoot Red...Avery's sadness quickly turns into a quest for justice. A quest that just seems to snowball downhill.Brian Cox is a brilliant actor and this is one more excellent performance by the old timer. That said he alone is not able to carry this movie into any direction of interest and some below par acting does not help. Especially appalling is Kim Dickens, who plays a holier than thou TV journalist called Carrie. My main problem with this movie is its lack of focus. Scampering around for a main theme it misses several opportunities to i.e. focus on cruelty towards animals or delve into the engulfing emptiness of Avery's life that the dog's death has caused. These themes are just superficially touched and then we suddenly head into the dangerous territory of 'eye for an eye' revenge type scenario, which overshadows the fact that this movie is about Red. The dog. And his death. And not about dysfunctional families and their mental issues.This story may have worked in the book, but for a movie you really need to refocus the plot, as you can't touch too many subjects without risking gibberish.

sol1218 **SPOILERS** 64 year-old widower Avery "Ave" Ludlow, Brian Cox, was totally unprepared for what was to happen to him and his beloved dog and life-long companion-of 14 years-Red when he went down fishing at the nearby lake by his home. Confronted by this trio of local teenagers lead by the snot nosed and spoiled rotten Danny McComrack, Noel Fisher,they at first threaten to mug Ave and steal his pick-up truck. As Ave was trying to talk some sense into their heads that, almost as an after-thought, Danny pointed his 12 gage shotgun at Red and shot him to death! Left alone Ave who got Red as a fiftieth birthday present,from his late wife, now felt that the only thing he can do for Red is to bring his killer-Danny-to justice. The justice that Ave sought was for Danny and his friends his brother Harold, Kyle Gallner, and Pete, Shiloh Frenandez, who just stood by and did nothing to Stop Danny from shooting Red to apologize for what they did. Getting nowhere and even being threatened by Danny's dad Mr. McCormack, Tom Sizemore, with a lawsuit for unnecessary harassment Ave went to local TV News reporter Carrie Donnal, Kim Dickens, to get his story out to the public. This lead to both Ave and Carrie being targeted by Mr. McCormack & Son Danny with both psychical violence, with Ave's hardware store being torched, and lawsuits in Carrie's story destroying his, and Danny's, reputations as upright and honest citizens.Not backing off for a minute in his seeking justice for Red, all Ave wanted was an apology and nothing else, lead to Danny trying to take matters into his own hand by, from behind no less, attacking Ave with a baseball bat. This "macho" act on Danny's part, him 17 attacking a man old enough to be his grandfather, backfired badly on him with Danny ending up with the wind being knocked, with his own baseball bat, out of him by Ave. ***SPOILERS***It's when Danny's dad the self-righteous and nobody tells me or my boy what to do Mr. McCormack tried to finish the job that his son started that things really got out of hand. So much out of hand that it lead to a bloodbath that practically wiped out the entire McCormack clan! Whch included Harold-Danny's younger brother-who at least had the common sense to apologize to Ave for what his spoiled and crazy brother Danny did!Trying to just get a simple apology from Danny wasn't asking too much on Ave's part in what he did by cold-bloody blowing away his dog Red. It was when Danny and his dad started to escalated the already explosive situation way out of proportions that Ave finally lost it. As peaceful and non-violent as Ave was he just couldn't turn his back on what both Danny and his father, in trying to run him out of town, were trying to do to him. In the end both Danny and his pop, as well as the innocent Harold, ended up paying a lot more for what they did to Ave, after Danny killed his dog Red, then they could have ever dreamed of!