Review of The Reckoning (2014) by Ashley B — 07 Sep 2014

4 stars.

VERDICT: Gripping Aussie crime thriller.

It certainly is an exciting time for filmmaking here in Western Australia. 2014 has heralded the production and release of some top quality and highly accessible big screen offerings that have been filmed and produced in and around Perth (These Final Hours, Son of a Gun and Paper Planes.).

The Reckoning is a gripping, stylish and suitably lurid thriller that continues this welcome trend.

Shot in Perth and written/directed by Western Australian filmmaker John V. Soto (Crush, Needle), The Reckoning is a deliciously amoral detective thriller that is superior to the majority of contemporary crime flicks from the U.S.

Jonathan LaPaglia plays troubled detective Robbie Green, who is hot on the trail of the perpetrators of the brutal slaying of his ex-partner Jason Pearson (Luke Hemsworth.).

His search leads him to a duo of young runaways who are travelling around the suburbs of Perth with a hand held camera in tow.

Critically ill teen Rachel (a star making turn from Hanna Mangan Lawrence) is grieving over the death of her sister and is on the run with her devoted but unhinged boyfriend AJ (ubiquitous fresh faced local thesp Alex Williams.).

The pair leave several startling clues (via a mysterious video) of their biblically themed vengeance mission and detective Green is forced to embark on a race against time to thwart their plans.

Director Soto ensures proceedings are never predictable by skilfully intercutting the police investigation with the teens' perilous road trip.

Unlike most conventional police investigation thrillers, The Reckoning admirably devotes sufficient time to character development and motivations.

The cleverly penned non-linear screenplay also includes subtle hints concerning Robbie's apparent alcoholism and his relationship with his work partner Jane Lambert (Viva Bianca.).

Throw in stunning cinematography from Jason Thomas, who perfectly captures the seedy side of Perth, and you have an accomplished, refreshingly gritty and thoroughly entertaining thriller that deserves to be embraced by Aussie audiences.

Gavin Bond.