The thriller genre is probably the hardest to really deliver a good quality film in. It requires so many levels to make it work that more often than not the good stuff gets lost in the shuffle. The latest Deadfall sports a great cast including Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Charlie Hunnam, Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson, but does it have the story and needed twists to make it work?
Deadfall follows a pair of siblings on the run after a casino robbery goes horribly wrong. After a car accident they spilt up which leads them into an unexpected reunion at the family of an ex-boxer, who has just gotten out of prison, his parents, during an already problematic Thanksgiving dinner. This film sports a story that is pretty simple on the surface, but thanks to some great performances and clever twists here and there becomes a bit more intriguing. The idea here isn’t anything all that new, but there are some directions that this film takes that are a bit unexpected. There are numerous levels of storytelling here from a love story, family drama, a heist, and a dark thriller that is structured well enough that not only do they not get convoluted, but they actually mesh together to deliver a good second half of the film. Rarely do you see a film that uses an intense hostage style situation to address the aspects of love and family relationships.
This isn’t a perfect movie as it feels a bit lost in itself at first, but as it progresses slowly comes together to create an interesting take on the thriller genre. It’s great to see not only Eric Bana who seems to only pop up from time to time, but also Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam get to step off the small screen to do something a bit different. Deadfall is a film worth checking out especially if you’re a fan of anyone involved and dig this genre.
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