Barron's Cove

Barron's Cove is a Somber yet Powerful and thought-provoking film about grief, loss, and revenge. Honestly, I think this is one of those films that is better to go in blind than to know the details about what happened. However, I will say there is some very heavy subject material, such as the death of a kid and abuse. So be warned going in that this film isn't for the faint of heart. However, everything felt real and grounded throughout, and it touched on a lot of subjects that feel relevant to modern society. I also really enjoyed how the film kept you guessing about the central event throughout the film. The entire cast is superb. Garrett Hedlund (Who I haven't seen in anything since Tron and Troy) gives an amazing performance. Similarly, Christian Convery (Ethan) gives a very versatile performance. He can be both creepy and sympathetic in different moments. Stephen Lang is as great as ever. Also, Tramell Tillman (Severance's Mr. Milchick) gets a few moments to shine, and we learn that bro can rock dreadlocks. Last but certainly not least is Brittany Snow. Brittany Snow is my all-time favorite actor, and she gives an amazing performance in this film as Jackie. It's not a huge role, but you really get the sense that Jackie is a real person who is dealing with this unimaginable grief and all the emotions that come with that. Honestly, my only real complaint was that Jackie's role wasn't more significant with more screen time. However, when this was shot in 2023, Brittany had a lot of other projects (Red, White, and Blue, The Good Half, and releasing her book September Letters), and it probably wasn't the budget for her to be in it more. Nevertheless, Brittany gives an amazing performance in this, which is just another example of her brilliance as an actor. Ultimately, what I loved about this movie was its cast and the way it prompts you to think about complex topics in various ways. I was never bored and invested in the characters and their stories the entire time. And much to my surprise, I changed how I felt about some of the characters as the film progressed. Even though it has some heavy subject matter, I would recommend it just because of the emotional weight attached to it, and for Brittany Snow!

But they didn't try too hard to make a cliche filled ridiculous movie I have so many characters to use up here and I'm sorry I often use the same adjectives to describe movies but they apply nonetheless, this is ridiculous movie!, it's the same old crazy story of some tough guy who has it rough who basically has no moral scruples, his kid gets killed which is in the description of the movie so I'm not spoiling anything, the kid he ends up on the run with which is also in the description, he's an evil little dude, I guess everybody in this movie is basically evil, even the estranged wife who has a female partner now, because that's what's in all movies now!, even she's not very nice particularly, I watched an hour and 27 minutes of an hour and 56 minute movie and have to quit now because the lead actors unbearably fake sounding anger is so pitiful, why is dude an actor?, don't watch this movie and don't believe the hype rating probably because they're so few people having rated it, it's really bad, all people involved should be embarrassed to the fullest extent!

This entire movie is just endless cliche after cliche.

Every beat is something we seen before.

Every beat in an order we heard before.

It tries really hard to have some sort of redemption arc but it all falls flat.

Everyone is corrupt and none of them are held accountable. We are treated to a vast conspiracy. With conspirators that are so morally bankrupt they will turn a blind eye to e child abuse.

And at no point is it clear why the vast majority of these people are participating. We're just supposed to accept it as if this takes place in some fantasy world where people are terrible by default.

Unless you're watching this to follow some particular person's career arc, there is no reason not to skip this one.

Evan Ari Kelman's Barron's Cove is a haunting, slow-burn thriller that delves into grief, vengeance, and the cyclical nature of violence. Garrett Hedlund delivers a raw performance as Caleb, a father shattered by his son's tragic death. Convinced of a cover-up, he kidnaps Ethan (Christian Convery), the boy he believes responsible, igniting a tense manhunt led by Ethan's powerful father, Senator Lyle (Hamish Linklater). The film's strength lies in its moral ambiguity and the evolving bond between Caleb and Ethan, both scarred by trauma. Kelman's direction is confident, with Matthew Jensen's cinematography capturing the bleakness and fleeting hope. The film's emotional depth and thematic complexity make it a compelling watch. Truly a can't miss. Barron's Cove is a poignant exploration of loss and the desperate search for redemption.

I've read a few reviews claiming the effect this movie has on those who are parents. It's an absolutely understandable feeling. But even if you don't have kids, this movie will hit you hard, as it touches on loss, the evil around us and the sacrifices we're capable of when confronted to those two. Garrett Hedlund and Stephen Lang have chilling scenes together, and the way their relationship develops towards the end of the movie will fill you with a feeling of being personally betrayed by a loved one. Highly recommended, I hope to see more of Evan Ari Kelman, he writes from the heart and has good instinct to mesh drama, thriller and crime.