Barron's Cove

I was surprised how much I liked this film considering how over used and predictable many of the scenes and situations were in this new action thriller. The sometimes over the top the performances are often powerfully emotional and the cast particularly the lead are fully committed to the point where it is hard to come away unshaken and deeply moved, they overcome many derivative tropes of the genre. On the surface it is a revenge story but peeling back the layers there is a lot of dark human condition explored here and this combination I have not often seen before.

It never quite knocks it out of the park and it has more than a few weak spots but has some stand out memorable moments and explores a lot of uncomfortable subjects and emotions. If you like your thriller black with no sugar this dark brooding world conjured here is for you. I consider this a point above average, seven from me.

Evan Ari Kelman's Barron's Cove is a haunting, slow-burn thriller that delves into grief, vengeance, and the cyclical nature of violence. Garrett Hedlund delivers a raw performance as Caleb, a father shattered by his son's tragic death. Convinced of a cover-up, he kidnaps Ethan (Christian Convery), the boy he believes responsible, igniting a tense manhunt led by Ethan's powerful father, Senator Lyle (Hamish Linklater). The film's strength lies in its moral ambiguity and the evolving bond between Caleb and Ethan, both scarred by trauma. Kelman's direction is confident, with Matthew Jensen's cinematography capturing the bleakness and fleeting hope. The film's emotional depth and thematic complexity make it a compelling watch. Truly a can't miss. Barron's Cove is a poignant exploration of loss and the desperate search for redemption.

Barron's Cove is a Somber yet Powerful and thought-provoking film about grief, loss, and revenge. Honestly, I think this is one of those films that is better to go in blind than to know the details about what happened. However, I will say there is some very heavy subject material, such as the death of a kid and abuse. So be warned going in that this film isn't for the faint of heart. However, everything felt real and grounded throughout, and it touched on a lot of subjects that feel relevant to modern society. I also really enjoyed how the film kept you guessing about the central event throughout the film. The entire cast is superb. Garrett Hedlund (Who I haven't seen in anything since Tron and Troy) gives an amazing performance. Similarly, Christian Convery (Ethan) gives a very versatile performance. He can be both creepy and sympathetic in different moments. Stephen Lang is as great as ever. Also, Tramell Tillman (Severance's Mr. Milchick) gets a few moments to shine, and we learn that bro can rock dreadlocks. Last but certainly not least is Brittany Snow. Brittany Snow is my all-time favorite actor, and she gives an amazing performance in this film as Jackie. It's not a huge role, but you really get the sense that Jackie is a real person who is dealing with this unimaginable grief and all the emotions that come with that. Honestly, my only real complaint was that Jackie's role wasn't more significant with more screen time. However, when this was shot in 2023, Brittany had a lot of other projects (Red, White, and Blue, The Good Half, and releasing her book September Letters), and it probably wasn't the budget for her to be in it more. Nevertheless, Brittany gives an amazing performance in this, which is just another example of her brilliance as an actor. Ultimately, what I loved about this movie was its cast and the way it prompts you to think about complex topics in various ways. I was never bored and invested in the characters and their stories the entire time. And much to my surprise, I changed how I felt about some of the characters as the film progressed. Even though it has some heavy subject matter, I would recommend it just because of the emotional weight attached to it, and for Brittany Snow!

Several user reviews have expressed dissatisfaction with this film; however, my viewing experience was highly positive, particularly given that I approached the film without prior knowledge. The performances were commendable, and while the narrative shares some thematic similarities with other works, it maintained my engagement throughout. In contrast to the perceived decline in quality of contemporary cinema, this film proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

This entire movie is just endless cliche after cliche.

Every beat is something we seen before.

Every beat in an order we heard before.

It tries really hard to have some sort of redemption arc but it all falls flat.

Everyone is corrupt and none of them are held accountable. We are treated to a vast conspiracy. With conspirators that are so morally bankrupt they will turn a blind eye to e child abuse.

And at no point is it clear why the vast majority of these people are participating. We're just supposed to accept it as if this takes place in some fantasy world where people are terrible by default.

Unless you're watching this to follow some particular person's career arc, there is no reason not to skip this one.