aboo meets teen angst. Based on Alexander Stuart's award-winning (sort of, more on that later) novel of the same name, it's the story of the rot that lies under the facade of normalcy in a seemingly ordinary middle-class family.

   Troubled teen Tom finds himself transplanted from London to the Devon countryside where, with nothing but time on his hands, he finally figures out, and then proves, that his 18-year-old sister is
routinely being raped by their father.

Not only that, but his sister is as powerless to put an end to the abuse, or even admit it's happening, as his father is blind to the pain and suffering he's causing with his incestuous desires.

   More on that award: Stuart's novel won top honors at the Whitbread Awards. But just before the award ceremony, the judges came under pressure about the
political correctness of lauding a book about incest and withdrew the prize.

   Another sad note: While writing the book, the author's own five-year-old son died of cancer.

Zeitgeist Quotient:
Taps into current mania for all things dysfunctional when it comes to family life - think The Ice Storm, The War at Home, Magnolia, American Beauty. Also taps into porno-vogue - Boogie Nights - as the teen son uses a video camera to catch his father and sister in flagrante delicto.

Street Cred:
Indie fave actor Tim Roth makes his directorial debut with this film. It's also one of those films that takes no prisoners when it comes to making the audience feel like they need a bath when it's over.