I really enjoyed this film -- that's what I came to realize when I sat down and started putting my thoughts into words. That realization came as something of a surprise to me because the film doesn't exactly live up to its billing as "a thought provoking dramatic thriller." At times, I wasn't even sure if writer/producer/director Chris St. Croix knew whether he was making a serious film or a dark comedy (according to a St. Croix interview I came across, the film was originally envisioned as a comedy).

Shattered did succeed, however, in drawing me into the lives of the four lead characters as they try to deal with a really bad situation -- and it definitely kept me in suspense as to how the story would play out all the way up to the end.

What should be a rather simple -- albeit traumatic -- situation becomes hopelessly complicated in Shattered. Hours before four lifelong best friends realize their dream of opening their own bar, a cretin shows up at the site and tries to rape one of them. Fortunately, she escapes and manages to lock him in the storage room just before her friends arrive.

At this point, 99.99% of the population would have just called the cops. What seems like a no-brainer decision to me is anything but to Heather (Jennifer Kennard), Regina (Lynette Cole), Nikki (Amanda Bailey) and Claire (Jennifer Spriggs), though. For different reasons of their own -- both personal and practical -- they decide not to report the crime.

Having made that decision, they're basically left with two options: let the guy go or kill him and dispose of the body. Things quickly become complicated, however, as certain facts come to light -- and then things become even more complicated. It really does become somewhat comical at certain points, and some of the dialogue is rather inane as the girls' friendship is pushed to the breaking point. That being the case, it soon becomes clear that the ending is either going to make or break the entire film.

Fortunately, that ending plays out much better than I ever would have expected.

I guess Shattered can be called a "chick flick," but it's not the kind of torturously sappy experience that guys have to endure for the sake of their significant others. Maybe the fairer sex will have an easier time than I did understanding the reasoning of the female characters, but this guy definitely enjoyed the film -- and I see no reason why most other guys shouldn't enjoy it as well. Of course, the fact that the four leading ladies are all fairly attractive (Lynette Cole was Miss U.S.A 2000) doesn't hurt. They're not bad actresses, either (although a few spots of silly dialogue make them look bad on occasion).

I might also add that the sets and the cinematography are well above average for an indie film such as this -- especially considering the fact that this is St. Croix's first feature film.

Shattered isn't going to please everyone, and it does have some weaknesses -- particularly in the dialogue department -- but I hope any movie lover who has an opportunity to see this film will not hesitate to give it a chance.