Debut features from even experienced directors who have cut their teeth on TV can be a bit of a lottery.

They can bring a fresh perspective to a tired formula or - the downside - their big movie inexperience is blatantly obvious and makes for uncomfortable viewing.

Todd Field is behind prize-winning short films at the Sundance Festival, as well as garnering acting plaudits in movies including Twister and The Haunting.

This dense, psychological drama sees him behind the camera, directing talents as reliably accomplished as Sissy Spacek and veteran British actor Tom Wilkinson, with Oscar nominations resulting for both.

Fortunately, Field manages to make an emotionally complex story (by the late Andre Abus) a compelling movie and utilises the two-hour running time to fully flesh the characters out.

The result is a disturbing analysis of how a family tragedy can propel those involved to fly off the moral compass with tragic results.

Wilkinson and Spacek play Matt and Ruth Fowler, a comfortable Maine couple enjoying summer with their only son Frank (Nick Stahl).

The only problem is, Frank is enjoying a romance with mother-of-two Natalie Strout (Marisa Tomei) - and her volatile estranged husband, Richard (William Mapother), isn't very happy about it.

Against this potentially explosive situation, an idyllic spell is unfolding, with Matt enjoying trips out lobster-potting with his son and Ruth playing hostess to their friends, Willis and Katie Grinnel (William Wise, Celia Weston).

When the crunch inevitably comes, the brutality of it leaves the Fowlers in a state of shock - Matt carries on apparently as if nothing has happened while Ruth withdraws into her shell.

The beauty of Field's direction is nothing is rushed; he takes his time to precisely relay the overwhelming loss felt by the Fowlers after the focus of their love is taken away.

The sense of frustration the couple feel when told that justice may not be done is palpable and the ambiguous ending is perfectly in keeping with the respectable, middle class couple they are.

A bleakly rich slow-burner.

Tim Evans