ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Revenge is anything but sweet in Mean Creek, a haunting morality tale from debut writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes. Deciding it's time that bully George (Josh Peck) received some payback, pint-sized punchbag Sam (Rory Culkin) and his brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan) lure the troublemaker on a boat trip designed to leave him stripped and stranded. But on the river things start to look a lot less black and white - and it's the shades of grey that make this much more than just another teen movie.

Superbly steered by Estes, the boat journey is the heart of the movie, pounding with tension. Laughs are also onboard - for example when Rocky's bad-boy buddy Marty (Eurotrip's Scott Mechlowicz) unzips his legendary lady-pleaser - but it's clear something awful's going to happening. Trouble is, when it does, the film springs something of a leak; the grave final act is arresting, sure, but it can't match the power of what's gone before.

"EXCELLENT TURNS FROM THE CAST"

Still, you can't fault Estes' understanding of his characters: his approach to kids is as frank as Larry Clark's (who explored similar territory in Bully) but coloured with more compassion. What's more, he coaxes excellent turns from his cast: Culkin displays a sweet sensitivity while Mechlowicz (coming on like Brad Pitt's kid sibling) broods with dangerous charm. But the piece belongs to Peck (TV's The Amanda Show), whose ability to convince as both villain and victim paddles the movie's moral dilemma into some deeply compelling waters.