Review of Small Town Murder Songs (2010) by Cathy T — 02 Sep 2011

Moody Canada character drama focusing on Walter (Peter Stormare), a small town cop with a violent past who has recently converted to Christianity to mend his former ways. Then the discovery of murdered woman brings him back into the orbit of former old lover (Jill Hennessy), whose sleazy redneck boyfriend is the prime suspect in the killing.

Swedish actor Stormare sheds his usual tough guy persona to play Walter as a quiet man of few words who feels ostracized in his town, and harbors a violent temper that his new found faith barely keeps in check.

Beautiful cinematography and a booming gospel soundtrack add to the mystique of the film, though its slow burn may bore some.