半熟少年激杀案

　　一位年迈的老警察深信在他小镇上被捕的神秘陌生人是无辜的，进而展开的调查就像捅了马蜂窝一样，将永远改变这个镇子。

　　A group of young men dare a classmate to reach the porch of a legendary old house, said to be haunted by the thirteen victims of a family massacre. In hopes of making a viral video they arm him with a video camera to prove he was there or to capture him fleeing in terror before even reaching the house, as others have. When he doesn't return, the guys must go in to get him. Inside they discover the truth about the house, the fate of their friend and their own fate as well.

 改编自赛珍珠的普立兹奖小说，是好莱坞在三十年代开始注意东方题材的代表性作品。影片虽是描写中国农村夫妇的悲剧故事，但主角均由美国人扮演，导演悉尼．弗兰克林也采取西方古典电影的风格来处理，在制作上相当严谨认真。剧情描写保罗．茂尼与路易丝．莱娜本来是贫困的农民，面对饥荒的威胁甚至以烤土充饥。后来茂尼得到了一笔财富，竟整天花天酒地迷恋情妇，莱娜只有发挥贤妻的耐性期待丈夫浪子回头。今天看来类似故事已显得老套，但本片的拍摄与特技表现杰出，路易丝．莱娜亦获得奥斯卡最佳女主角奖。

　　故事背景是未来世界的洛杉矶，此时已有三十万的外星人劳工移民进入美国，跟地球人打成一片。地球刑警塞克斯的搭档惨遭杀害，为了找出真凶，他只有接受外星族警察法兰西斯作为新搭档。在追查真相过程中，两个不同种类的刑警逐渐消除了对彼此的不信任，以及克服在不同种族查案时遇到的阻碍，合力对付主要的嫌疑犯——不怀好意的地球企业家泰伦斯·史丹普。