The movie itself is really on the verge of being really good. But it never quite reaches that top. Still it is a wonderful acted and photographed movie. The story keeps you on your toes (or the edge of your seat from time to time),though you sometimes wish there would be a clearer and easier to follow narrative. On the other hand you could argue that that is the strong point of the movie.

Being based on real events, this obviously had some high expectations to fill (read there was some notion from the real detectives, who were hoping to get new clues on happenings in that area, though I can't confirm if that is true or not). And it shouldn't matter or make a difference on what you think of the movie. Either you like it or you don't. No matter what is really going on. You can't put that kind of pressure on a low budget movie like this one.

Texas KILLING FIELDS is a rather boring serial killer flick set in the Texas swamplands (which I didn't even know existed). It's a poorly-directed mess of too-dark scenes, murky plotting and even murkier character motivations. The problem is that various TV shows like THE FOLLOWING tend to do this serial killer stuff better these days leaving films like this one floundering in their wake.

The main problem with the film is the insipid direction, which comes to us courtesy of the unlikely-monikered Ami Canaan Mann. She's Michael Mann's daughter, no less, but should have taken lessons from her father in terms of camera placement, basic editing, and narrative suspense used to keep the viewer watching. Instead what we get is a largely boring structure of endless sub-plots, talky dialogue scenes, and a too-large cast of cameoing stars.

Sam Worthington and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as the two leads, can do nothing with such boring, poorly-written characters who have few redeeming qualities for the viewer. Certain actors like Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, and the inimitable Stephen Graham, are given too little screen time to truly make a mark, although anybody familiar with the cast list will guess the identity of the killer early on in the proceedings. And, I'm afraid to say it, Chloe Grace Moretz reveals the paucity of her talent. How on earth does she keep getting work?

Detectives Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) and Brian Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) are investigating mutilated bodies dumped in a marsh known as the Killing Fields. They pick up Anne Sliger (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is under probation and is suppose to be home but she doesn't get along with her troubled mother Lucie (Sheryl Lee). Detective Pam Stall (Jessica Chastain) is a police investigator from the neighboring jurisdiction and Mike's ex-wife.

It has some grimy hard-boiled police drama. It's not breaking any new grounds. The actors try to do good work. Other than Worthington, I like all the actors. It has a moody backwoods sense. It's slow and disjointed at times. Directed by Ami Canaan Mann daughter of the famous Michael Mann, this is a good starting point but is not good enough to guarantee future greatness. She has an interesting eye but there is not enough tension for much of the movie.