Through the direction of William Kaufman viewers experience the crime-infested streets of New Orleans which feature characters entangled between criminal activity and tragic events. The film presents a captivating neo-noir thriller that follows intense high-stakes action together with the emotional transformations that affect its characters throughout their journey. The film tells its deep story about loss and justice while unfolding the themes to viewers who become engaged in its complexity as the story takes place in a violent gang-ridden city.
Tony Award winner Johnny Strong delivers intense portrayal of Detective Sean Riley as the central character of the story. Riley battles through his inner demons after losing his young child which turns into a work-related problem that deepens his character while adding emotional complexity to his torment and grief. Through his work with Detective Will Ganz (Louis Mandylor) the audience witnesses how experience creates a powerful contrast with youthful optimism. They work together in the dangerous criminal environment while the movie demonstrates their process of recovering within an unstable world.
Kaufman expertly portrays New Orleans in his direction yet the film struggles from time to time due to its prolonged scenes and predictable storyline elements that reduce its effect. This movie builds upon strong themes of doubtful morality and basic human nature to create a fascinating exploration about justice alongside sacrifice during times of profound darkness.
