Trust is tested in Misdirection, a new thriller by Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland). The beats may be familiar, but strong performances and a tight runtime keep the action moving.
Sara and her boyfriend Jason break into the home of renowned defense attorney Daniel Blume, planning a quick robbery while he attends a charity fundraiser. When Blume returns home earlier than expected, the plan collapses, and it becomes clear they’ve underestimated their target. This is no ordinary lawyer, and escaping won’t be easy.
If you were coming into this film expecting the manic antics of Willy’s Wonderland, you might be a bit disappointed. Still, Lewis has a diverse filmography and understands how to navigate genres. His choice to keep the action largely contained to one location plays well in upping the overall tension and reinforcing the claustrophobia of a job gone south.
Across the board, the performances are strong. Kurylenko as Sara and Grillo as Blume have wonderful chemistry in their interactions. Grillo has such a strong presence onscreen that it is not always easy to match, but Kurylenko never backs down. As the story progresses and the script stalls a bit, the consistent performances of the three main actors keep the audience engaged. Without giving away plot points, I do wish that Grillo had been utilized slightly differently. He’s Frank Grillo. Where else will you find a voice with that level of gravitas? One of Grillo’s strengths is that he plays villains and heroes effectively. You’re never sure what side of the coin he’s on in any given film, and I think there was a way that could have been leaned into even more.
As effective in building tone and atmosphere was the film’s score by the Moxy Brothers. Though relatively new to film composition, their score suits the tone perfectly. It highlights the tension and builds on the mood in a way that is present but subtle. A strong score highlights a film without overpowering a moment, and that’s what theirs does.
The screenplay, by Lacy McClory (Saphire) is solid, if not a bit inconsistent. When the dialogue is flowing, the actors are given some really nice material to work with. The runtime is tight, which helps balance the storytelling. That being said, the plot does meander a bit partway through. Story beats get retread, and telling instead of showing weakens the impact of a few moments. There is an artform to unveiling exposition in a naturalistic manner, and it’s not always successful in this film.
If I did have something to complain about, the lighting at times would get a bit dark. I understand that in a home invasion-style film, needing to keep the tension and mystery of darkness, but as a viewer, I also want to be able to watch an actor’s facial expressions. Yes, the darker scenes can help reinforce the danger and the stakes, but in a crime thriller, it’s equally frustrating to watch some of the action-heavy scenes in so much darkness.
Overall, Misdirection is worth watching for anyone who is a fan of a tight crime-thriller with a bit of the unknown thrown in. If you consume a lot of movies, will you probably see where it’s going? Sure. But that’s not always a bad thing. There’s something comforting about returning to a form that works and is enjoyable. When something is done well, we don’t mind walking down that path once again.