Not everything in Crescent City is as it appears.
Directed by RJ Collins, Crescent City tells the story of Brian Sutter (Terrance Howard), a police officer in a small southern town who’s struggling to keep it together. Plagued by bad memories, he can’t sleep and is barely able to do his job. When the town is terrorized by a serial killer, Sutter and his partners, Luke Carson and Jaclyn Waters (Esai Morales and Nicky Whelan), are called into action. But, as the body count rises, everyone—including those on the force—become suspects, forcing them to try to contain the horrors of their past as they look to catch the killer.
Shrouded in murder and mystery, Crescent City is a gritty crime thriller that revels in shadows and secrets. Bathing the world in darkness, Collins ensures that everything about this world feels ominous. While there are moments in the light, they are fleeting. Much of this film rests within the night, when bodies go unnoticed and confidences are kept. Written by Rich Ronat, this is a story that keeps its cards close to its (bulletproof) vest. While not all of the film’s reveals work, City still manages to entertain with its many twists and turns.
Unfortunately, if there’s a weakness to this City, it stems from biggest stars. While Baldwin, Howard and Morales are well-established actors who have tremendous bodies of work, they often seem disengaged from their performances here. Despite having roles with solid backstories and some interesting twists, the male leads don’t always appear interested in their characters or their issues.
Having said this though, it’s worth noting the solid work provided by Whelan. As Jaclyn, Whelan provides a fiery confidence to the role that makes her strong and powerful. Working in a world of toxic masculinity, she carries herself with a steel glare that makes her compelling to watch. Even when she’s dealing with the consequences of her past decisions, Whelan ensures that Jaclyn keeps a level head and always fights back.
In this spirit, Crescent City is a place where everyone seems to be wrestling with the demons of their past. Without giving any spoilers, each of these characters are struggling to reconcile the damage that they’ve received (and caused) throughout their lives. For some, it’s wrestling with traumatic homes. For others, it’s mistakes that have left a wound on their soul. Regardless of their position, each of them is battling their emotional scars.
Interestingly though, this City takes an approach that’s atypical to other cop dramas. As the bodies (and stress) begins to mount, the film suggests that these officers begin to take care of their mental health. (“The more you ignore [your shadow self], the bigger and badder it gets,” we’re told.) There’s a genuine recognition that, if left unchecked, the burdens placed upon them will drive them to make mistakes, both in their personal and professional lives.
But, of course, not everyone takes the advice. And lives continue to spiral when they don’t.
In the end, Crescent City has enough going in its favour to make it worth the visit. For those looking for a noir thriller with brutality and back-stabbing, this has some meat on its bones for you to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, even with all the pieces in place, this City simply isn’t built on a firm foundation.
Crescent City is available in theatres and on VOD/Digital on Friday, August 16th, 2024.
