User reviews

Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) is a drunk. He lost his police job after a drunken shootout with a criminal. He finds a woman left for dead on the side of the road. He brings her to the hospital but she passes away soon after. He kept her phone and gets a call from a crass man who he believes to be her pimp. He decides to investigate her case on his own.

This is an indie crime drama with some very impressive character actors. I don't know if it's the presence of Robert Forster but I get an Elmore Leonard vibe. Granted, it's not quite the same. Hawkes is a great character actor and his elevation into the lead is very commendable. He is a compelling actor with real empathy. I like his character's redemptive story arc. That's why the money is unwanted. Getting paid diminishes his selfless act. The two henchmen are great. The movie is filled with great character actors. There is pulpy goodness here.

This is ARNULD again, here to to lift-up your spirits :)

I watched it because I thought it was a Budget-Action movie. Well, it was not. This movie was original, had mature acting, original shooting scenes, original dialogues & quite engaging . You become a part of the story. They do not make these kinds of movies anymore . It was serious but not dark, it had funny moments but those were not so funny that they will kill the drama or seriousness of the theme. I consider it one of my favorites. If you are happy then go watch it to become happier. If you are serious then go watch it to admire the theme. Just do not miss it if you like action movies with emotional drama mixed into them.

Eshom and Ian Nelms have delivered a tight little crime drama. I knew nothing of this film, but was scanning Netflix and I liked the cast and the plot summary, so I took a chance like on an unknown restaurant that looks right and doesn't disappoint.

John Hawkes, as an alcoholic ex-cop seeking redemption, leads a terrific cast of supporters, including: Robert Forster and Clifton Collins, Jr., who always elevate any film they're in, and Octavia Spencer and Anthony Anderson. If I were running Netflix, I would turn this character into a streaming series.

Looking for your annual rural crime/drama/black comedy/character study fix? Well, Three Billboards, which I reviewed the other day, provides that with something more illusory and profound. If you're after one that's a bit more old school and straightforward, check out the Nelms Brother's Small Town Crime, a brutal, breezy thriller starring John Hawkes, an actor I remember from the fringes of the 90's who seems to have gone newly platinum these days thanks to an Oscar nomination for 2010's Winter's Bone. He's hilariously sympathetic here as a raging alcoholic ex-cop who stumbles right into the middle of a murder ring with the crosshairs latched onto a group of local underage prostitutes. Never one to back down once he gets a few cold ones in him before noon, he's on the case between sessions at the dive bar and inebriated joyrides in his souped up muscle car. There's a slightly off kilter, surreal quality to his story and that of those around him, a coming and going sense that these are a cartoonish series of events that aren't really happening, when one looks at the supporting characters. Robert Forster has never been more deadpan or watchable as the tycoon grandfather of one of the slain hookers, a hands-on gent who isn't afraid to dust off his giant scoped rifle to help out. He's joined by outlandish Latino pimp Mood (Clifton Collins Jr., who needs way more roles), both of them assisting Hawkes in his crusade. Even the psychotic hitman (Jeremy Ratchford) dispatched to kill everyone in sight has a distinctly 'out there', roadrunner vibe. But Hawkes anchors the whole deal with the mopey, sad-sack realism of his character, a loser who's dead-end existence has been given a new lease on legacy. His best buddy Anthony Anderson and wife Octavia Spencer give the plot some gravity too, a neat seesaw effect that sits opposite Forster and Collins exaggerated antics. The film has a funny way of both ambling along at it's own pace and jumping out at you with warp speed jump cuts and brazen, bloody violence. The dialogue is pure poetry in areas and knowing camp in others, neatly balanced. Don Harvey and veteran tough gal Dale Dickey have great bits as salty bartenders, while Daniel Sunjata and haggard looking ex-pretty boy (remember him in Monster In Law with Jane Fonda and J-Lo?) Michael Vartan play two local detectives who are always frustrated to be a step behind Hawkes, who plays off the grid and close to the chest. Small Town Crime is a small time film, but the craft gone into bringing it to our screens couldn't be bigger or more commendable from all angles. Highly recommended.

Let's be honnest : I almost stopped watching this movie after ten minutes because I felt it was a kind of parody, quite funny but it was not at all what I was expecting. Luckily, I kept on warching, and the more the plot went on, the more I was hooked. The plot is intelligent, well built, the characters are strongly defined and the acting is perfect. Add to that a very elegant staging, a beautiful photography, and you have a pretty good... what ? Action movie ? Film noir ? Modern western ? Well, actually the movie borrows from all these genres while succeeding to exist as a work in its own right. It is both funny and dark, light and serious, touching and violent. For all those reasons I really loved this movie. Of course this not a masterpiece, but it is not either a "forget after watching" movie like there are a lot right now. PS : sorry for my English, I am French and I have not written in English for a long time

While not as funny, nor quite as good, "Small Town Crime" has pace and a storyline that roll down the road like a muscle car.

Hawkes' lead is nicely fleshed-out, and transformative. All the characters that surround him are adequately performed, well-cast, and fit their small places within this quirky crime thriller.

It's a little more comedy and a good soundtrack away from an 8-9, and may still find it's way onto the back-end of a top-25 for the year of its' release; at least for me.

I sat down last evening looking for one of those rare Netflix gems, and rolled the dice. This one paid.

You'll like this if you liked: Tree's Lounge(even or a touch below)), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(a touch better), The Lookout(a touch better),Red Rock West(a touch better), or Stuber(not as good).

Okay, so this movie did employ some of the same cliche' plot themes used in crime drama's, but a good movie non the less. This is a story of an alcoholic ex-police officer who is struggling with life and fighting his inner demons. He comes across a girl, who was left for dead and then becomes obsessed with finding her killer. I can say that it offers no real mystery, everything is pretty much out in the air for the viewer. However, it was a movie that kept my attention and I wanted to keep watching it. The acting was pretty good as well. It wasn't an on the edge thriller and at times ran a slow pace, but it does pick up. It also left me with some small unanswered questions because it never completely explains his story or what happened to him. Other than that, the movie is definitely a good movie to watch if this is your genre of movies. You won't be bored or regret watching it.

Not perfect, but not bad either. A movie that has a nice story, a believable character who is down on his luck. That may make him more likeable but it may also sway people the other way. It's a difficult role and a walk on a fine line for our main actor.

The violence is there and you have to stay with it to follow the plot. Good cinematography, good script and nice flow to it all. So while you may be able to predict things as this moves along, it still has some punches and things you may not expect or at least be surprised by a little bit. Watch it if you like small movies (budget wise) and all that

Haven't made a movie review on here in years, but had to log in to post this. I didn't think this would be my kind of movie, but I loved it. Favourite movie in months. The slow pace picks up so slowly that before you know it you're watching an action movie. My impression at the end was that it was like watching a modern western - set in suburban life instead of a dusty saloon town.

This is the type of film we have seen many times before. A hardened ex-cop wants to do right by his prior mistakes by taking on a case that he feels obligated to find the truth behind. And Small Town Crime isn't particularly all that different or unique. However, the pulpy feeling does give it the spice it needs at times. And John Hawkes has a knack for turning in some solid small budget film role performances. I think the script needed to be built out more and characters needed to have deeper motivations, but I was never bored. So that's good.

6.9/10

Never heard of it. Came across it on Netflix. This is one of the best pulp fiction crime movies I have seen in a long time. It's both gritty and funny in parts. The characters are awesome and the story and pacing just roll.

Definitely recommend.

John Hawks is Kendall, an former cop who must have done SOMETHING pretty bad to get tossed off the force, as we hear in the opening phone call. When he brings a girl who's all banged up to the hospital, he wants to find out what happened. His cop friends tell Kendall to lay off and butt out, but he's curious. And unemployed. So he keeps digging. The big name in here that i recognize is Octavia Spencer... oscar for The Help! For the rest of the film, Kendall is digging around, and getting yelled at by the cops for sticking his nose into their investigations. Lots of blood and guts along the way. His life will be become so complicated for getting involved in all this. It's okay. Written and directed by brothers Eshom and Ian Nelms .

Small Town Crime tells the story of an alcoholic ex-cop who finds a young woman's body and commits himself to finding her killer.

It's not the most original premise, and neither is the plot, character development, or execution. And that's the first impression I got from this movie: that it didn't stray an inch from its genre's conventions. This doesn't necessarily connote a bad movie. Netflix's Stranger Things and Paco Plaza's Veronica are perfect examples of this. Unfortunately, Small Town Crime doesn't do the same for the hard-boiled crime genre.

It's an enjoyable experience, only one that you'll forget instantly. It's a popcorn flick, but not one with the eye-candy spectacle that accompanies a blockbuster budget. The plot develops in interesting, occasionally unpredictable ways. But rather than being edge-of-your-seat tension, you'll best enjoy this movie slumped back in an armchair. The acting was also good, but, don't expect it to win any awards. The the writing also holds any potential for relatable performances, particularly John Hawkes'. His unfulfilled potential and backstory cried out for more attention. Essentially, the movie presents a largely paint-by-numbers plot, which sadly forces characterisation into the backseat.

The second and third acts also rush through the plot, a little too unfocused. The script demanded a re-write if it hoped to deliver anything spectacular.

This is the lowest score i can give a film that i managed to finish. on top of the plot and screenwriting, the unlucky viewer gets std tripe of :

• muscle car tires squealing on dirt roads.
• 90 lb. non-muscle protagonist lifting weights and pushing people around twice the weight.
• texan with high end rifle that can clip a rope but not hit any shooters.

...plus many more !

A gritty slow burn of a small town desert noir story. Fallen cop seeks to redeem himself. Lots of strange characters and when the violence erupts it is brutal. Overall pretty good. Worth a watch.

The Coen Bros first hit BLOOD SIMPLE not only remains the best iteration of the modern Haute Noire but is also an easy target for newbies. Which is what this film is, another set of bros aim for the brass ring with a goofy, feisty and often unpredictable tale of a failed cop turned detective. It almost works. But 'almost' only counts in horseshoes. Hawkes' performance is worth the ticket however, painting a portrait of a loser who finally finds his niche. Unfortunately, the Nelms Boys are still looking for theirs.

Really glad I landed on this one tonight. Small Town Crime reminded me of a sort of one-horse/one town Pulp Fiction in many ways. A character heavy, stylized (but not over-stylized) noir/crime film with with some dark humor and Westerns homage thrown in. Not as much of a comic book feel as PF, but this is definitely a movie that hovers slightly beyond how the real world works. Loved the contrasts: brutal shoot em ups transposed against everyday domestic scenes, the overly stereotyped characters and the quirky unique ones. Lot's of car chases and scenes in cars, and for the lead character, his souped-up 80s muscle car is an anchor set piece. The story here isn't as gritty as you might think; it's lighter and breezier than its subject matter; the villains here are comic book villains, the the heroes are drunks and pimps, and the bad guys die and the good guys live. As others have said, the movie was amply cast with talented actors.

Lately (2022) have been doing a number of IMDb review on indie movies and the overall quality has been pretty poor. To the point where, like other things in our society these days, reviewers are prepared to give a good score based on effort only, and not the final production. Small Town Crime, done 5 years ago by the under-appreciated Nelms Brothers, reminded me of what indies are supposed to be. Indies are supposed to hold the attention. Indies are supposed to make the viewer think, hey, that was interesting. I never saw that actor before but he/she is pretty good. I never saw that story arc before. I never saw that camera angle before. The irony is that indies are not only supposed to be as good as a Hollywood release, they are supposed to be better. And Small Town Crime fits the bill. It is a lean and mean detective story, almost a noir, with no frills. And it restored my faith in independent films. (Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Perhaps I'm engaging in a bit of grade inflation by giving this movie 10 stars but I wanted to wash away the acrid venom I had in my last review. Imagine how different our current movie landscape would be if instead of the last ten comic book movies we had ten times that many gems like Small Town Crimes.

Whatever was wrong with this film-and there wasn't much wrong-it wasn't due to the fact that they didn't have any huge movie stars. Good directors can get good performances out of just about anyone, and these guys are good directors.

Well acted and well paced at every step, this was a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes.

The film follows a drunk washout of a man, who stumbles upon a murder case that he tries to solve... he's way out of his depth throughout the entire film but somehow manages to get the job done. It's not even close to being the best film in this genre, but it's good and certainly worth a watch if you like crime/intrigue films. It's too short and it skips on many plot details that the viewer could have found interesting but otherwise it's a solid 7/10 film.