TENDERNESS

Year: 2008
USA: Lionsgate
UK: Lionsgate UK
Cast: Russell Crowe, Laura Dern, Jon Foster, Sophie Traub, Alexis Dziena, Alicia Harding, Tim Hopper, Jazmine Rodriguez, Michael Kelly, David Larosa
Director: John Polson
Country: USA
USA & UK: 101 mins
USA Rated: R for disturbing violent and sexual content, and language
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and crime scene images
USA Release Date: tbc
UK Release Date: 26 June 2009 (Limited Release - London, West End)
UK Distributor

Synopsis

Based on the book by bestselling author Robert Cormier, TENDERNESS is a nail-biting psychological thriller, that never lets you go, TENDERNESS stars Russell Crowe (STATE OF PLAY) as Detective Cristofuoro. Set in New York State, the story centre's on juvenile murderer, Eric Poole, who at 18 is released from jail having served his sentence for the murder of a young girl.

However, hard-bitten Det Cristofuoro who was responsible for putting him behind bars is convinced that Poole is a potential serial killer, who will re-offend when he gets the chance. Cristofuoro makes it his mission to keep Poole under surveillance as he sets off on a seemingly innocent road trip up-state.

It's not long before the violent teenager, Eric's path intertwines with Lori, a 16 year old runaway who cannot resist his charm, but Cristofuoro is doggedly pursuing Eric and is determined to unravel Eric's complicated past

But all is not as it seems as Poole soon finds himself on the run with a young girl who has become obsessed with him and may or may not have been witness to the first murder...

Shot in the New York area, Polson last directed Robert DeNiro and Dakota Fanning in HIDE AND SEEK and SWIMFAN. Fellow Australians Crowe and Polson have previously worked together as actors, first as soldiers in the World War II picture PRISONERS OF THE SUN, in 1990 and then again in THE SUM OF US, in 1994.