Repentance (FILM REVIEW)
Repentance
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Psychological Thriller Traces Grief-Stricken Man’s Slow Descent into Insanity
Therapist Thomas Carter (Anthony
Mackie) has just published a popular self-help book about the near death
experience which helped him turn his life around. He is proud of the fact that after
almost perishing in a horrific, alcohol-related car crash in his teens, he eventually
not only earned graduate degrees in World Religion and Clinical Psychology but
went on to wed his soul mate, Maggie (Sanaa Lathan).
Today, Tommy has a happy marriage
and a flourishing practice founded on a spiritual philosophy combining faith and
positive thinking. But sadly, his enviable fortunes have proven to be the polar
opposite of his wayward brother Ben’s (Mike Epps) lot.
The recently-paroled ex-con was
barely back on the streets before word of a $12,000 bounty being placed on his
head spread around their native New
Orleans. So, when Ben approaches his successful sibling
for enough cash to keep his bloodthirsty adversaries at bay, empathetic Thomas opts
to raise the ransom by extending the best-selling tome’s publicity tour.
At a local book signing, he is approached
for an autograph by a fan also urgently in need of 1-on-1 counseling. Against
his better judgment, the literary rock star agrees to see Angel Sanchez (Forest
Whitaker) as a patient, since the $300/session fee definitely will put a dent
in brother Ben’s debt.
Even worse is Dr. Carter’s fateful
decision to make house calls to the home of this loner left devastated by the death
of his mother (Adella Gautier). For, although it might be easy to diagnose the
source of the deeply-disturbed man’s anguish, the only hint that he’s at the
end of his emotional rope is his estrangement from his wife (Nicole
Ari Parker) and
young daughter (Ariana Neal).
The plot thickens when Angel takes
his new shrink hostage, tying him up in his basement-turned-makeshift torture
chamber. The psycho proceeds to behave sadistically while conveniently managing
to keep up appearances for the sake of any visitors and passersby.
Directed by Philippe Caland (Ripple
Effect), Repentance is a momentarily-intriguing psychological thriller that establishes
a compelling premise only to morph into an otherworldly horror flick. Over the
course of this rudderless adventure, Forest Whitaker ultimately finds
himself abandoned by an implausible script.
The Silence of the Butler!
Fair (1.5 stars)
Rated R
for profanity, violence and torture
Running time: 90 minutes
Studio: Code Black
Films
Distributor: Lionsgate
Films
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