The Cold Father

The Cold Father is a gripping slow-burn thriller that follows Anthony, a recently released master thief, as he searches the underworld of Cape Town for his missing daughter. Luthuli Dlamini delivers a standout performance, skillfully portraying Anthony's cold and calculating nature while balancing his deep, emotional desperation as a father. Director Henry Charly creates a tense atmosphere, using stunning cinematography to capture both the beauty and isolation of South Africa's cities.

The film successfully combines elements of noir with a character-driven story, pulling viewers into Anthony's dark world as he uncovers hard truths while utilizing prison-honed interrogation techniques. With a captivating plot and well-developed characters, The Cold Father keeps you emotionally invested in Anthony's journey as he battles the scars of his past and the weight of lost time. The direction is tight, and the pacing remains consistent, offering a blend of tense drama and action. Though it deals with familiar themes, the film's unique setting, strong performances, and immersive storytelling elevate it, making it a worthwhile and engaging watch for fans of gritty thrillers.

A man released from prison goes on a journey to find his daughter. That's the starting premise of this story and it leads to a few twists and turns and surprises as he uncovers the truth. He learns as much about himself and what he's capable of doing as he goes on his mission. Luthuli Dlamani is the lead character and he holds the story together through his strong, commanding presence. He skillfully walks the fine line between being ruthless and determined like an ex-criminal and being empathetic and sensitive as a father searching for his daughter. His character has a cold streak that might disconnect from others but the film makes you understand his methods and motives. The writer-director, Henry Charly, keeps the direction tight on the narrative. Charly also served as cinematographer and beautifully shoots Cape Town in both warm and cool tones, befitting the lead character's own journey. I'm looking forward to seeing this filmmaker's next film.

A standout performance by Luthuli Dlamini in the lead role of Anthony. A recently released South African master thief witnesses his life come full circle as he returns to the free world to comb the Cape Town underworld in search of his only living daughter. Anthony is immediately likeable and his story is intriguing. Writer/director Henry Charly cleverly seduces the viewer with Anthony's charming and magnetic persona, long before it's revealed what malice he's capable of. With the demeanor of an ivy league college professor, his slim build, and a look that quantifies every bit of his 55 years, Anthony is cold and calculating, and relentless in his quest.

The film conveys a real sense of lost time, and there is no disconnect for the audience when it comes to Anthony's inner fight to sever the institutionalism of prison that haunts a seasoned con being flushed back into society. Overhead establishing drone shots of the sprawling neon of Johannesburg and the resort city of Cape Town add a perfect atmosphere of distance. Anthony walks the crowded streets, but completely alone. The polygraph which does not detect lies, but rather fear; something used on Anthony, that ultimately becomes his weapon of choice on a quest he simply can do nothing more but see it through to the end. The film is soaked in a blue hue-it provides texture for The Cold Father, but also implies the rising tide. In his quest he is indomitable, but ultimately, Anthony is the victim of stolen years, and not enough time.

I just watched The Cold Father and, in my opinion, it's a slow burn, but it really pulls you into its dark and intense world. Jack Devnarain who plays David and Luthuli Dlamini as Winston both deliver solid performances that kept me invested throughout. I especially enjoyed the cinematography and the beautiful locations, which really enhanced the atmosphere. However, I did notice some issues with the sound quality - there were a few moments when the audio didn't feel as polished as the visuals. If you like gritty, slow-paced dramas as much as I do, The Cold Father it's definitely worth a watch.

If you enjoy indie thrillers then you won't want to miss this one. The Cold Father is a well shot, fast paced, properly acted film about a father searching for his daughter. It just happens to be that the father was recently released from prison and his daughter has seemingly gotten mixed up with some shady people. Being from the states it is fun to see indie films set in locations I've never been before. From Johannesburg to Cape Town South Africa the locations are beautiful! The cinematography was well done, although it was a bit shaky at times for me. A stand out scene was the really cool dolly shot that circled the talent during an interrogation, it wasn't till the end credits that I saw it wasn't actually a dolly but some kind of raised platform DIY setup. Always super cool to see a little behind the curtain. All in all I would say The Cold Father is a good watch if you are up for a brisk 74 minute Mystery Thriller!