Don't Call it a Swan Song

On the surface, “Small Town Murder Songs” is a police procedural involving the death of a young woman. What makes the film so engaging is that the murder serves as a backdrop to one man’s efforts at a small measure of redemption.

The story is set in a cold, desolate Mennonite town in northern Ontario. The characters seem rooted in place, and indeed the town seems to keep even those with reasons to leave from even making an attempt to escape.

The film’s protagonist is Walter, the town’s sheriff. Walter is attempting to put his violent past and short temper behind him. However, the townspeople seem unwilling to forgive him. Walter is constantly met with nervous glances and disapproval, and even he seems unsure about whether his efforts are sincere. He finds hope in the Catholic Church and a woman who is aware of his questionable past but who appears to have also been through some hard times.

Walter’s plan for redemption is to surround himself with anything and anyone he can to keep his anger at bay, but the discovery of the dead woman sets into motion a series of events that threaten to bring Walter’s recovery to a screeching halt. Walter suspects from the outset that his past lover’s creepy boyfriend was involved in the killing, and there is quite a bit of evidence to support his case. The ex is played by Jill Hennessey with a combination of fear and anger towards Walter. It becomes evident early on that a violent incident occurred between the two, raising doubt about the validity of Walter’s suspicion of his ex’s boyfriend.

The murder investigation is fairly straightforward and presents few twists, but the movie doesn’t have to rely on it for suspense. The tension comes from Walter’s character, and Peter Stormare does an excellent job of making us feel sorry for Walter when he may not deserve our sympathy. By the end of the film, the new life Walter has attempted to build for himself is about to come crashing down.

“Small Town Murder Songs” is not without its flaws. Despite its 75-minute running time, some scenes tend to drag, and the end is not what many viewers would have hoped for. There really isn’t a happy ending to be written for a small town murder song.

*Available at Redbox and Netflix Instant Streaming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB22oo_f8g0

Take Shelter

A Storm on the Horizon

“Take Shelter” begins with a storm. Curtis LaForche stands in his driveway and looks up at ominous clouds just as it begins to rain, the drops brown and oily. This will be the first of many visions Curtis has throughout the duration of “Take Shelter,” and they grow increasingly violent and disturbing. He also begins to suffer from vivid nightmares. In one, the peaceful family dog attacks him, and Curtis feels the pain in his arm the following day. As his nightmares begin to involve those closest to him, he grows more suspicious and unstable.

This is a brilliant piece of filmmaking by Jeff Nichols, due in large part to the Academy Award-worthy performance by Michael Shannon as Curtis. Shannon and Nichols previously collaborated on the 2007 film “Shotgun Stories,” which centered on a blood feud between two sets of brothers in Arkansas. “Take Shelter” has much in common with that film but is much more visceral and intense.  

Set in present-day rural Ohio, Curtis has what his best friend Dewart calls a good life. His situation is certainly admirable, as he has a loving wife, played by the dependable Jessica Chastain, and a beautiful young daughter. The family is not without its problems. The couple’s daughter is deaf, but a surgical procedure offers hope for her. This puts a strain on the family’s finances, which are the product of Curtis’s construction job and his wife’s handmade quilts.

As Curtis’s nightmares and apocalyptic visions intensify, he becomes more of a threat to himself and his family. It is revealed midway through the film that Curtis’s mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when she was around his age. He suspects that he may be suffering from mental illness, and his low income and rural surroundings don’t give him much of an opportunity to seek professional help.

Despite his visiting a doctor and sessions with a cheap therapist, Curtis becomes increasingly obsessed with the storm he sees coming. He begins to expand on the storm shelter in his back yard, borrowing his employer’s equipment and spending large amounts of money on making sure the shelter is well stocked and equipped for a disaster. People in town, including his wife and Dewart, begin to question his sanity, yet his wife does her best to support with him through the ordeal. In one of the film’s best scenes, Curtis explodes in a shocking act of anger and paranoia at a community dinner.

Some may find “Take Shelter” to be a bit slow, but if you appreciate great acting, cinematography, and storytelling, then it’s a must-see. “Take Shelter” is unsettling, eerie, and will stick with you days after viewing. It is certainly worth checking out.

Available at Redbox

Take Shelter Official Trailer