the police go to arrest Billy, they are confronted by residents angry over previous unfounded police harassment and a riot erupts. Brenda is charged with criminal neglect, and Lorenzo promises to visit her in jail. Cast Production Shooting took place mostly in Yonkers, New York. Release Home media The film was released on DVD on May 30, 2006 with no special features. The film debuted on the Blu-ray format for the first time on November 6, 2012 by Mill Creek Entertainment. It was included in a double feature with the horror film The Messengers (2007). Reception Box Office The film grossed $14.7 million against its $30 million budget. Critical Reception On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 23% based on 151 reviews. The consensus states: "Poorly directed and overacted, Freedomland attempts to address sensitive race and class issues but its overzealousness misses the mark." On Metacritic it has a score of 43% based on 35 reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade C+ on scale of A to F. Roger Ebert gave the film an overall negative review, and awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, writing: "Freedomland" assembles the elements for a superior thriller, but were the instructions lost when the box was opened? It begins with a compelling story about a woman whose car is hijacked with her 4-year-old son inside. It adds racial tension, and the bulldog detective work of a veteran police detective. Then, it flies to pieces with unmotivated scenes, inexplicable dialogue, and sudden conclusions which may be correct but arrive from nowhere. The film seems edited none too wisely from a longer version that made more sense." Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The film is, above all, a moving portrait of hurting souls, brought to life in compelling performances." Brian Lowry of Variety wrote: "Despite a few raw moments, pic feels like a Lifetime movie with a marquee cast." In a more positive review, James Berardinelli awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars, writing: "The thing that makes Freedomland riveting is the way in which its tale of human tragedy unfolds. Although it begins by looking like a big screen episode of CSI, it develops into something more sublime and disturbing. This isn't a mystery in the conventional sense, but it's about secrets hidden and revealed, and the corrosive power of guilt. Even as