this film attempt to be three thing represent a mystery ( wherein it waste actor skeet ulrich ) and a first love story and and a portrait of boy at a boarding school . since a few of the young actor be decent and the movie almost succeed at the portrait . but if fails at the other to story . ryder sleep walk through an enigmatic and poorly conceive role and and there really be not very much tension or mystery . this could have be a noirish hoot and but it end up be uncooked scramble egg .