4/20/20 - Blow the Man Down (2020) - 6/10

A sea shanty of a crime flick, that was well worked and decently crafted. A good story with smooth finishing details. There is a little magic in the middle that needs some pizazz, but it is pretty solid overall, with some sly artistic choices.

It builds well, as any deepening thriller-lite should, with the impending doom encroaching on all sides along with the hushed political sword of Damocles hanging over the town. Letting the dark machinations of a gossipy town take center stage was wise, and while it wasn’t the creep factor of a Blue Velvet, it had its own selling point. One of those is the matriarchal moxie. I like this juxtaposition of all the important characters in this being women, with the men being sex/love blind simpletons or surplus. Women are totally in control, in all forms and fashions and I love the “old lady gangster” stuff. It comes together quite well, with the generational women warfare and drama.

A (sea) worthy watch.