After a shooting at a police funeral, reclusive ex-cop Gannon finds himself unwittingly forced out of retirement when he realizes that the killer belongs to the same militia he joined after quitting the force. Understanding that the shooting could set off a chain reaction of copycat violence across the country, Gannon quarantines his fellow militiamen in the remote lumber mill they call their headquarters. There, he sets about a series of grueling interrogations, intent on ferreting out the killer and turning him over to the authorities to prevent further bloodshed.
“The Standoff at Sparrow Creek” is this year’s first unique and taut thriller. With an exceptional performance, James Badge Dale stars and continues to pick interesting roles. He’s been an actor since he was a child starring in the remake of “Lord of the Flies” and he hasn’t slowed down since. Dale is a real go-to supporting actor. He’s made stunning turns in small but important roles like “The Departed,” “Shame,” and, most recently, the somber Netflix original, “Hold the Dark.” In “The Standoff at Sparrow Creek,” he plays Gannon a former Michigan cop turned militiaman. He’s introduced living a rather sparse existence, hunting and possessing only basic supplies. One night Gannon hears thunderbolts of gunfire in the distance and he pulls out his CB radio. A voice on the other end checks in and he’s instructed to meet at a lumber mill which also serves as the militia’s makeshift headquarters.
It turns out a shooter with an assault rifle and IEDs has ambushed a police funeral. The actions and fallout leave the militia men desperately scrambling for answers. From the description of the attack and a missing assault rifle in the gun locker, the group realizes the attacker is in their midst. To top things off, the law is closing in and an affiliated militia in Pennsylvania is also considering staging a similar attack, all adding to the churning suspense.
There are seven main characters and the cast is remarkable. Each of them is interesting, genuine, and feel lived-in. Brian Geraghty plays Noah, an undercover cop which Gannon personally knows and wants to keep safe. Happy Anderson is one of the suspects, he’s had a great voiceover career and was recently seen terrifying Sandra Bullock in “Bird Box.” Chris Mulkey who is a veteran character actor known for “Twin Peaks” and “Boardwalk Empire,” takes on the role of Ford. Patrick Fischler plays Beckmann, a bookish teacher moonlighting as a militia member perplexed by the recent events. Gene Jones plays Hubbel who speaks with such an enchanting southern cadence. Jones is most memorable as the hapless gas station attendant with his dumb luck on a potentially fateful coin toss with Anton Chigurgh in “No Country For Old Men.” The final member is played by Robert Aramayo recently seen in the solid “Galveston.” His role is a mysterious loner who keeps his journal absconded in a copy of ‘The Catcher in the Rye.’
The screenplay is in the vain of “Reservoir Dogs” and somewhat of a live theater approach. There is a fair amount of one-on-one interrogations and long conversations which naturally unfold giving characters’ backgrounds and motivations an organic distinction. All the while the threat of violence looms in the air like a humid Florida night.
The production is flawless, the camerawork patiently moving in and out of large rooms and lingering on faces. The lighting department did a hell of a job, silhouettes and the industrial setting are splendidly portrayed. The film is scoreless, foregrounding the focused sound design which immerses you in the resonating mill. I really hope this film reaches a larger audience. Most importantly, the story crescendos on a well earned intelligent ending, which is so rare in storytelling these days.
Available on Blu-ray & DVD March 5th
