Nathan Shepka returns, this time sharing the directing duties with Andy Crane, in the story of a bouncer named Alex who is hired to track down a young girl who is on the run from a human trafficking ring.
Shepka has rapidly become one of my directors to watch. He has been turning out a series of low budget action thrillers over the last few years that counter the low budgets with great scripts, fantastic casts and characters that you care about. Why the hell hasn't he gotten on the fast track to Hollywood?
This time out Shepka has made another small gem of a film. It's a film that feels real and raw. You can feel the world that the film takes place in. You feel the that everyone actually lives in these places and does the things that we see. We even buy one of the people who have played Dr Who, Sylvester McCoy, shows up as the attorney who hires Alex.
Huge praise and many bonus points to Shepka for having McCoy in the film. It's a small but pivotal role that shows how grossly under used McCoy is. McCoy disappears into his role and shows none of the lightness that he was known for in his best role. If there is a justice this film will get McCoy more meaty roles.
One of the things I love about Shepka is the way he shoots his action sequences. Instead of doing big elaborate fights, Shepka keeps them small and confined. Fights are in the realm or real, for example look at the knife fight in the kitchen. It's not two super warriors fighting but two guys trying very hard not to get cut up. The battle is much more realistic and there is a sense that anything can happen. No one is safe. It builds tension.
I really liked this film a great deal. It's a film I want to see again when I can really curl up on the couch and watch it and not have to write it up.
Recommended.
You cant be serious about this haha. This guy makes terrible "home made movies" that thanks to low standard of certain streamings services gets a release to the bigger public
ReplyDeleteI am serious. I like the film and the director's other films.
Delete