Shadows of Betrayal: Chronicles of Ian Blair

Gritty and epic, this revenge tale offers a heaping dose of twists and turns chronicling a man's search for justice.

Forced to be a fugitive after his wife's death, our protagonist Ian Blair discovers a series of devastating revelations about his friends and the evil that roams in his city. Recounting his story while in exile many years ago, Ian is forced to reckon with all that's transpired.

As Ian narrates the events leading up to his being a renegade, the film takes us into his once contented life in the fictional Cypher City. The sun-baked, dry setting is the backdrop of an act of betrayal, with lots of gang fights, frat bro friendship, and mystery crime thrown in. The film definitely has a firm grasp on its vibe: a masculine world full of danger and rugged characters. Combining multiple genres such as revenge thriller, and survival, this film is a roller coaster ride with a grand ambition.

Sometimes, the film goes overboard with the dramatic editing. While admittedly stylish, it comes across commercial-esque all of a sudden, taking you out of the moment's intensity. There are a couple other instances where the directorial decision gets in the way of the storytelling: booming score that feels over-the-top for what's on screen, lofty exposition to explain the emotion of the moment. The writing and performance itself should be able to convey this without these directorial cues (music, long winded dialogues).

Visually, the film has beautiful cinematography capturing its snow capped mountain setting. Utilizing multiple cameraworks to great effect, the film looks great. There is a nice contrast with the cold present day scene clashing with the heated, urbane setting of the past.

It is an intriguing tale of vengeance that, despite some mismatched directorial choices, makes up for it with its vibe and far-reaching scope.