i really like richard gere . i always have and it seem a of late that his status a a hollywood star and money maker have slip but it would appear to me that the reason be that he be take very mature and intense role and have be very successful at it just not financially because i have see him in some truly great gem a of late include the hoax and the hunt party ( both must see film . see my review ) and now this the flock which apparently be mean to be a big release consider it substantial 35 million plus budget . it seem that some of the other imdb review be very and very harsh because i think the film dealt with a potentially very serious social issue in a very direct and violent and disturbing way and gere just bring it all home . it an action thriller drama that keep my glue to the television with it story . i think part of the problem that people seem to have with it be that it hollywood izes a very serious issue but i do not think it do it with disrespect but rather try to take a different spin to make people aware that this exist . in fact it much the same way that the hunt party dealt with war . hong kong director wai keung lau do a decent job hold it together but i think the cast be what make it watchable . richard gere a you may have guess from my previous comment be brilliant a a social worker of sort erroll babbage who have kind of create his own style and law when it come to keep track of his flock who be register violent sex offender . he hold no punch in track these people and follow them and make absolutely sure they do not re offend and if they do he will be the one to identify and stop them any way he can . gere be so intense and look drain from this job and he become violent and angry at watch these monster loose on the street . he be just fantastic . claire dane be also terrific a babbage new partner and his replacement who he have to train to do his job . dane character be far more typical social worker and be a little take aback by babbage style and method but slowly realize what he be try to accomplish and go up against . the two of them be brilliant together and have terrific chemistry with such vastly different character . kadee strickland play a disturbed registered offender who appear to be tear from the headline a she play a character very reminiscent of karla homolka ( paul bernardo wife who be now out ) for those of you who follow canadian serial killer . her character go a little over the top but she be convince and horrify all at once . russell sam have a small role a strickland new boyfriend and he would have be good probably give a big role . ray wise and who be a terrific character actor ( check him out in dead end as well a the amazing turn a satan himself in the wb show reaper ) and he get a small but good role a the head of the public safety department and babbage bos . the movie isn not perfect despite the terrific performance of it lead cast . it take liberty by really try to make the film more entertainment than educational but it just a different angle not unlike the nicholas cage dud 8mm . the flock take you into the underbelly of the sex trade and kidnapping and human trafficking and more and be just really something to watch . perhaps it wasn not direct or write as well a it could have be but i be tell you that dane and gere together make this movie completely watchable and a really great thriller . it disturb but also something that isn not very complex and yet gere character in many way be intensely complex with many layer and also open social stigma and make you contemplate about vigilantism in many way when you see the people gere deal with . i encourage you all to ignore poor review and see it for yourself because it worth check out . 8 . 5/10 .