Derailed

Jennifer Aniston in Derailed.

Herald rating: * *

If you're worried your husband might have an affair, then this thriller should go some way towards nipping that idea in the bud.

Derailed provides a somewhat extreme and implausible example of how terribly wrong things can go when a partner strays.

Derailed is frustrating to watch. It has a few unexpected surprises, but the film's random pace and lacklustre script gives us plenty of twists and turns which detract from the shocking revelations the story tries to offer.

The outcome is a plot that becomes more ridiculous as it reaches its conclusion, and the feeling that the characters get what they deserve - without us really caring.

Owen stars as Charles Schine, an advertising executive who meets attractive banker Lucinda Harris (Aniston) on the morning train commute. With his marriage dulled by the mundane day-to-day slog of work, and saving for his diabetic daughter's kidney transplant, Charles finds himself instigating an affair with this charming woman.

Before long, Lucinda and Charles end up in a dodgy hotel room together. But before they get the chance to consummate their affair, they are rudely interrupted by a stranger wielding a gun, who robs them, beats up Charles and rapes Lucinda.

Afterwards, Lucinda begs Charles not to go to the police for fear of her husband finding out about their affair. Charles agrees, goes home to his family, and the lying begins.

Unfortunately for Charles, his attacker, LaRoche (Cassel) has no intention of leaving him alone. He blackmails him and threatens his family. With the precious money for his daughter's operation gone, Charles feels he has no option but to take things into his own hands.

The most frustrating thing about the film is that the violence that ensues could have been avoided had Schine gone to the police, or told his wife the truth. Nowhere are we offered a convincing reason why he didn't.

In trying to be too clever, Derailed comes across as not terribly clever at all.

Although Owen, Aniston and Cassel do an admirable job of trying to hold this lumbering thriller together, none perform at their best. If Aniston is trying to prove she can do dramatic roles, she has a way to go.

CAST: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Melissa George, Vincent Cassel, Xzibit
DIRECTOR: Mikael Hfstrom
RUNNING TIME: 108 mins
RATING: R16, contains violence, sexual violence, and offensive language
SCREENING: Village, Hoyts and Berkeley