Stay Clean

A righteous rendition of a pivotal chapter of a James Ellroy (of "L.A. Confidential" fame) novel narrated by a serial killer.

Filmed in moody black and white, a trio of cops confront an axe murderer about his gruesome slaying of a young couple.

Walter Coppage, riveting as the lead cop, deserves an A-list role.

Race Owen, as the dissembling dismemberer, is disarmingly sympathetic.

Director/writer Mitch Brian delivers a spot-on vision of author Ellroy's unique world and distinctive narrative voice. Brian's take on Ellroy's twisted, killer-narrated novel leaves one hoping that the producers of the just-announced, planned adaptation of "Killer on the Road" - the novel from which this gem was gleaned - turn to Brian for a full length treatment.

(P.S. Watch for a brief, powerful cameo by author Ellroy, portraying a cop who delivers the film's pay-off line.)

Mitch Brain's short film of a section of James Ellroy's novel "Killer on The Road" is a excellent and among the best film adaptations of author James Ellroy's work.

Despite having only about 10 minuets screen time, Race Owen and Walter Coppage give great and suprisingly complex performances.

The opening murder sequence is a real shocker and gives the viewer a feel for what it's like to read a scene describing a murder in a James Ellroy novel.

James Ellroy himself is in "Stay Clean." His appeareance at the end of the film is incredibly cool and eerie.

"Stay Clean" is a great movie I wish could have been longer.

Mitch Brain's short film of a section of James Ellroy's novel "Killer on The Road" is a excellent and among the best film adaptations of author James Ellroy's work.

Despite having only about 10 minuets screen time, Race Owen and Walter Coppage give great and surprisingly complex performances.

The opening murder sequence is a real shocker and gives the viewer a feel for what it's like to read a scene describing a murder in a James Ellroy novel.

James Ellroy himself is in "Stay Clean." His appearance at the end of the film is incredibly cool and eerie.

Stay Clean is a movie I wish could have been longer.

Writer/director Mitch Brian manages to deliver the finest, truest adaptation of a James Ellroy work to date. Sure, it's not on the scale of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, but this tight, moody dramatization of a chapter from one of Ellroy's lesser novels, KILLER ON THE ROAD, captures the author's voice with pitch perfection. From the shocker opening sequence to the brilliant double-punchline at the end (including a great moment featuring James Ellroy himself!), this one is definitely worth a look. If Brian can do this much with eleven minutes + one chapter from an Ellroy novel, just imagine what he could do adapting one of the books in its entirity. Hollywood, are you listening? Give Ellroy's AMERICAN TABLOID to this guy.