I was completely unaware of this one but for two bucks at the thrift store, I thought I’d give it a try. I’m glad I did as it turned out to be a nifty little neo-noir.
The plot has more twists than a pretzel, but I’ll try to give you a summary. The film opens with bad guys and brother and sister Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde on the run after pulling off a heist that has netted them a ton of cash. It’s Thanksgiving time in Michigan, the roads are covered in snow, and the getaway vehicle has a brutal crash. The sibs survive, Bana shoots a police officer, they divide the money and split up with the goal of crossing the border into Canada.
Boxer Charlie Hunnam is fresh out of prison. He goes to collect his share of the take for fixing a fight. His manager refuses to pay him and Hunnam accidently kills him, causing Hunnam to go on the lam towards his parents’ house in the Michigan woods.
Hunnam picks up Wilde and they fall in love pretty damn quick. Meanwhile, Bana is on a murderous journey of his own. He kills a deer hunter, an abusive stepfather and two sheriff deputies on his way to the aforementioned parents’ house.
The parents are played by Kris Kristofferson and Sissy Spacek and they have no idea of the hell that’s about to land on their doorstep.
And then there’s deputy Kate Mara who is trying to prove herself to her sheriff father, Treat Williams. She encounters Bana on his rampage and a hell and gone snowmoblie chase ensues with Bana escaping and continuing on his quest.
All of the above characters finally converge on the farm house and an incredibly tense and suspenseful standoff ensues. People die but I’m not telling who. You’ll have to see for yourself.
DEADFALL has a solid cast of veterans and newcomers. Spacek, Kristofferson and Williams are familiar faces while Hunnam, Wilde and Mara all give good performances. But it’s Bana, as a pure evil criminal with nothing to lose that stands out. He’s very good.
DEADFALL is a tight and taut exercise in cinematic suspense. Good performances, wintertime Canadian scenery and sharp cinematography and a twisty plot make this one a winner and definitely worth checking out.
Recommended.
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