Review of One False Move (1991) by Thilak P — 14 Oct 2009

There is a cinematic irony in Noir-ish framework, of the film's narrative & lead characters,based on a distant countryside. A morally flawed 'fall guy' (a policeman who has done-with being in a worn-out place), a femme fatale (twofold gothic romance), and a ravaging conclusion, so ambivalently pessimistic. As it unfolds, there are cinematic contrivances you'd expect from a crime-thrille. But at heart of it, there is a major twist (between Dale, the fall guy, and Lila, who deforms into a femme fatale, & the title so aptly sums this up) that lifts the whole film few notches above, and open up inconceivable chasms into these characters, creating a depth so to speak. The psychotic killer is refreshingly nerdy, and the redneck is neurotic & stupid (that why they get caught all the time!). In other ways this film is a road movie, a police procedural, and almost Coen-esque in treating its characters before it takes the aforementioned wild turn! The social commentary of American life, especially racism (without being overtly obsessed or melodramatic), and patronization within police force are remarkably handled for a debut script (two thumbsup to the co-writers).

And I was shocked to know it's a directorial debut. How this film managed to go off the radar?