Things move a bit more slowly in small towns.
The same can be said for things in "Small Town Murder Songs," Ed Gass-Donnelly's seething thriller that took home Best Director in the World Cinema Competition this week at the Phoenix Film Festival. However, the filmmaker uses the slow pace to his advantage, covertly sliding the movie under the viewers' skin.
The result is an incredibly unsettling experience and one that, as other critics have already stated, keenly echoes the works of the Cohen brothers. Then again, that is a comparison this critic makes with caution because, from the looks of "Small Town Murder Songs," Gass-Donnelly is a cinematic master in and of himself.
Peter Stormare stars as Walter, a middle-aged cop in a quiet Ontario town. When the body of a young woman is discovered, the lapsed Mennonite and former tough guy is forced to face the sins of his own past in order to find the killer. And Walter need not look too far, either.
Rather, Steve (Stephen Eric McIntyre), a man who is now dating a woman (Jill Hennesy) with whom Walter was once involved, is the obvious suspect. But as the town's fears over the unsolved murder mount, Walter discovers that his past can and will come back to haunt him.
Some have argued that Gass-Donnelly reveals the killer far too early in "Small Town Murder Songs." However, it is important to note that this is not a whodunnit. The thrills here are much more emotionally and psychologically based than that. The director does an absolutely stunning job building that cerebral tension.
The actors - from Stormare's lead right down to supporting players such as Martha Plimpton, who portrays Walter's wife - all do spectacular work in "Small Town Murder Songs." And an underlying eerie soundtrack featuring Bruce Peninsula pairs perfectly with Gass-Donnelly's chilling visuals to create an extremely unique piece of cinema.
In this critic's opinion, "Small Town Murder Songs" is easily the best and brightest entry in this year's Phoenix Film Festival, encouraging anyone who sees it to eagerly anticipate Gass-Donnelly's next work.
The 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival takes place March 31-April 7 at Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Tickets, which range in price from $10 for a single screening to $250 for a VIP package, are currently available on the Phoenix Film Festival Web site and will be also sold throughout the event at the Phoenix Film Festival Welcome Center next to Harkins Scottsdale 101.
Listen to Joseph J. Airdo's “Movie Maverick” segment every Friday morning during “The Daily Blender with Jeffry O'Brien,” 6-9 a.m. weekdays on NBC 1260 AM and 96.1 FM.
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