Dirty Shield

This movie is of such amateurish production quality I wasn't even sure it would be listed on IMDB.

According to the IMDB listing, the "estimated" budget of the film was $150,000. It's not clear whether that estimate was from the producers or surmised by IMDB reviewing staff.

For a movie filmed in 2014, I'm pretty sure cell phone video was superior to what is shown on film. Further, all the dialogue is of a quality seemingly captured on the cheesy in-camera microphone from a hand-held camera or iPhone. I guess re-dubbing was never a consideration.

The plot for all it's worth is reasonable though formulaic. But the direction is below bares bones-ish and the acting is frankly poor - as if a number of friends all got together to pitch in on a film.

The quality of the production severely detracted from what otherwise might be a passable film. The climax of the film culminated in a major surprise "reveal" of the perpetrator of a major plot crime. This then led to a gunfight. However, by this time all the air had already been sucked out of the moment.

Actors are wooden , script is full Of holes. And the budget ? NYPD Detectives are driving a beat up Chevy Malibu Sedan with New Hampshire plates. The dispatcher had the phoniest NY accent I ever heard. Then en route to the officer down there's a guy in the backseat with the officers. Then he disappears, reappears, then finally isn't there anymore . Dont even get me started on the Police Captain was this his first acting job or is he the Producer' Brother in law? The Psychiatrist was so terrible I wouldn't hire her talk to my goldfish. The gang members were stereotypes with chains and headbands it was cringe worthy. Then the gunfire sounded like a cap pistol some child from the 1960's woul have owned . Recommending a pass on this one save your 90 minutes for better films.

It's a low low budget movie but the producers almost pulled off a miracle in telling this story in an entertaining, engaging way. There were some audio problems and some lighting inconsistencies here and there but the plot was good, the dialogue fair and the acting mostly convincing. ****SPOILER - the actual killer reveal at the end is a little over the top and almost unbelievable. And how could the LT cop not question why the protagonist wife was there at the final shootout - that's one huge pothole. Why was she not arrested?

As usual, the villains are one dimensional evil scumbags so you don't care when they get whacked off. The protagonists-cops - are fleshed out enough to care about them and their dilemmas, so that keeps the viewers involved. Though a little crude and half baked it is still compelling and captivating. Would I see it again? Maybe 1 more time.