We Gotta Get Out of This Place *** (2013, Mackenzie Davis, Logan Huffman, Mark Pellegrino) – Movie Review

We Gotta Get Out of This Place is a not great but a good, taut, tense and stylish neo-noir thriller from first-time directors the Hawkins Brothers, Simon (30) and Zeke (34).

Dutch Southern writes the screenplay in which three American teens are planning to escape their dead-end existence in a Texas small cotton-mill town but get embroiled in organized crime when one of them steals from the wrong man.

Mark Pellegrino makes a great villain as Giff and Mackenzie Davis (Sue), Logan Huffman (BJ) and Jeremy Allen White (Bobby) are good heroes in peril. The reckless BJ is the one who steals the money from local thug Giff and because of this Sue, Bobby and BJ all end up in big trouble. Giff wants them to commit another crime to atone for the theft, and if they don’t succeed they will have to answer to Giff’s boss, Big Red (William Devane).

The Hawkins Brothers show plenty of promise and talent, though the Coen Brothers don’t have to worry quite yet. It’s frustrating that the plot feels a bit familiar and un surprising when there are so many good things about the film. The performances, the dialogue, the cinematography and the moody score are the film’s main strengths and they’re enough for a satisfying experience.

The legendary William Devane has disappointingly little to do and doesn’t appear till the very end. Jon Gries plays Sheriff Shep.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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Logan Huffman plays BJ.