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Tuesday, October 2, 2018

A Crooked Somebody - Thriller Review


A CROOKED SOMEBODY  

Film Review by FIORE


At what cost fame?  That’s the acorn sprouting into a thrilling oak that is A CROOKED SOMEBODY.  Folks, this is an excellent thriller, bolstered by a smartly written script and superior acting.  Trevor White helms the project, and he assembles an entertaining and enjoyable who-done-it.

Rich Sommer plays Michael Vaughn.  He is excellent in the part and worthy of Best Actor consideration.  Clifton Collins is Nathan, the antagonist and Joanne Froggatt is Chelsea, Michael’s assistant.   Paul Ben-Victor, best knnown for his role on SyFy Network’s THE INVISIBLE MAN, makes a cameo as Detective Zimmer.  Veterans Ed Harris and Amy Madigan also make cameo appearances. 

Despite coming from a family of pastors, Michael opts to enter the world of physic entertainers.  His dream is to be a bigger TV psychic than John Edwards.  Together with Chelsea, who serves as his agent and audience foil, they book a series of smaller venues, performing a scam and promoting Vaughn’s treatise on communicating with the dead.  Sadly, through the deception, Michael feels he is doing good but bringing closure to those suffering from lost ones. 

Enter Nathan.  After attending one of Michael’s psychic readings, he is convinced Michael can bring him forgiveness for a crime he committed nearly two decades ago.  He kidnaps Michael to force his services under the fear of death.  Rather than fear, Michael sees an opportunity to springboard into the limelight as a TV psychic, by playing off Nathan’s guilt. 

A CROOKED SOMEBODY is smartly written by Andrew Zilch.  His story is fast-paced.  The tempo is augmented by Editor Craig Dewey, who keeps the film at break neck speed.  Robert Lam utilizes smart camera angles, much in the style of Golden Era film noir.  



I liked the ride A CROOKED SOMEBODY provided.  The movie kept my interest and was enjoyable.  It’s a fine addition to the thriller genre.  Experienced thriller viewers may be able to discern the conclusion, but most will make it to the final reel still guessing; and isn’t that the mark of a good thriller? 

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