The 4 Points from writer-director Raul Perez might not be a masterpiece, but all too often rough diamonds have redeeming features. Co-written with Kevin J Kelley, this conventional LA-based crime thriller uses flashback effectively, but struggles at times to keep things coherent. Partners in crime prevention Detective Shane Murphy (Dustin Harnish) and Detective Dre Allen (Dominique Marsell) are also two of only three characters that feel sufficiently developed. Not that this ensemble cast are struck dumb or do nothing of interest, but some scenes feel disjointed, while others feel criminally cut short. However, early teething problems are turned around, thanks to moments of tangible threat and incidental music from composer Jackson Wood Brown.
This story centres on a pitch battle dating back 30 years between four opposing Los Angeles gangs. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on how violence has escalated, yet little evidence of that is depicted on screen. Conversations between Murphy and Allen with street level gang members might walk the walk, but little of that translates into talking the talk until late on. For audiences coming into The 4 Points thinking they are getting an indie version of David Ayer’s End of Watch, with shades of Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day, think again. There is a great film in there somewhere, redeemed by an outstanding final 15 minutes, but The 4 Points also comes with disadvantages.
Image via Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media
Some characters feel criminally underwritten, including Mr. Stevens (Dorien Wilson). A property developer and close friend to Detective Dre Allen, their kinship is given precious little time to convince in a handful of scenes. Leaving revelations that get explored early on just hanging in limbo unanswered. By trimming down the screentime for Mr. Stevens, Dorien Wilson and Dominique Marsell are unable to add nuance to intriguing characters, diminishing the eventual resolution. A great deal of the action between rival gangs is implied and possess a powder keg quality, while others totally lack tension on any level. This tonal inconsistency means that some audiences may struggle to emotionally invest in a film that promises gangland rivalry but sometimes fails to deliver.
Stand out performances that elevate The 4 Points for audiences include Dorien Wilson, despite the fact he gets only 15 minutes of screentime. Mr. Stevens is both suave, sophisticated, and ever so slightly menacing. Dominique Marsell also equips himself well in a thriller that might have won best indie feature at the San Francisco Film Festival last year but reserves any flashes of brilliance until late on. The 4 Points may give off a nagging air of greatness, but fails to reach those dizzying heights, because implication can only take audiences so far. People need to see something tangible, get embroiled in a bloody confrontation, and feel some sense of emotional resolution. When bullets finally start flying, and mic drop moments are busy making up for lost time, The 4 Points turns into the movie it should have been all along. Bold, brazen, and not without a body count.
THE 4 Points is now available on VOD and cable platforms, including Amazon, Fandango at Home, Tubi.