4/10
Moody but muddled thriller
8 October 2018
It's a rare thing for a Canadian film to be released on the Blu-ray format, and it's even rarer when it's an older movie such as this one. If you do see this movie on the Blu-ray format (as I did), you will see that unlike a lot of other Canadian movies of its era, it's pretty well made on what wasn't a lavish budget. There is some genuine atmosphere here, coming from well chosen creepy locations, skillful lighting, and clever camera angles. The acting is also pretty good, not just with Crenna and Williams, but also by the unknowns in the cast. As a bonus, there is also some good music on display.

Unfortunately, despite these good ingredients, the movie stumbles enough in a key area that as a result it doesn't work. And that is with the script. The narrative of the movie is frequently at a muddle. The story seems to be starting at chapter two or three instead of right at the beginning. There is also frequently juggling between many characters and various plot threads, so sometimes there is a long time before one particular plot thread is returned to. Another problem with the story is that it's pretty easy to figure out who the "Sin Sniper" is long before the "surprise" reveal.

While this isn't a terrible movie, it's too muddled to be as effective as it wants to be. I would only recommend the movie to (very) forgiving people who are fans of grindhouse B movies from this era.
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