Bad Country

Bad Country
by Chris Brinker (2014)

A hitman named Jesse Weiland is arrested and becomes a government informant.
The goal is to take down the most powerful criminal organization in Louisiana, but the problems won’t be long in coming.

“The South of Louisiana in the 80s was a different place. Some said it was lawless, but that wasn’t true. Others said: down here, we do things our own way… but that wasn’t true either.
I say it was what it was: a bucket without a lid. Sure, it depended on the kind of man you were, but there was one thing everyone better know: cops follow the rules, criminals don’t.
And if you forget that, it can cost you your life.”
(Bud Carter)

A spectacular backdrop.

Do you know the swamps of Louisiana?
Those atmospheric places that make you think of black magic and are filled with alligators?

Well, the story in this film takes place right there, in a place that seems unstuck from reality and suspended in time.

A place the detective Carter describes as “a trash can without a lid.”
Terribly fascinating and equally dangerous.

And these two adjectives perfectly describe Jesse’s life. On one side, the daily routine of criminal activities, and on the other, the need to change.

The arrest, fatherhood, and the almost forced desire to make a clean break from his past life to guarantee a future for his family.

But that’s not all. Adding to the allure of the project is Carter’s character.

An old-school cop, a tough guy, a policeman who sees his job as a mission, a true purpose, something that occupies every second of his day.

A guardian of the law but also a man capable of defending, with means not always legal, the safety of his precious witness.
And helping him with his revenge.

A worthy backdrop, as mentioned.
A good story enhanced by excellent performances from Willem Dafoe and Matt Dillon.

But unfortunately, in the foreground…

…comes the biggest flaw. The real weak point of this film.

The direction of the unfortunate Brinker (who died just after finishing filming his first movie) comes across as too television-like.

Especially in the staging, the photography, and some of the dialogues, it feels like watching one of those dated TV series that air on local stations in the late evening.

And it’s a real shame considering the premise and the pace the film maintains from start to finish. Nonetheless, there’s a great shootout scene.

Bad Country is a film the director clearly wanted to make, sincere in its intentions, with actors delivering convincing performances.
But it’s frustratingly incomplete.

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