THE LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME

US, 2020, 148 minutes, Colour.
Edgar Ramirez, Anna Brewster, Michael Pitt, Charlotta Copley.
Directed by Olivier Megaton.

This is an original Netflix film, popular on first screening on the streaming network, then receiving completely negative reviews.

There is very little to commend in this film. It runs for almost 2 ½ hours, begins with bloodthirsty torture and killing, continues in this vein right throughout, building up to a brutal climax – but, the promise of some kind of hope as a vehicle travels through the beautiful TransCanada? Highway anticipating some kind of freedom and peace.

This can be called a very ugly film. The characters are in no way sympathetic – and many of them not particularly interesting. Edgar Ramirez plays a criminal, seen initially brutal, wanting to have one big robbery success. He encounters the son of a wealthy criminal, called Cash, and played by Michael Pitt. Also involved is a woman, caught up in the brutality, the sexual violence, played by Anna Brewster. A possible redeeming character is a policeman played by Sharlto Copley.

There is a futuristic core of plot, the American government and police tired of crime, announce that they will send out a radio wave which will affect people and prevent them from committing crimes. Television announcers keep reminding the public of the nearing deadline. In the meantime, there are riots on the street, social mayhem.

The film spends a lot of time showing the behaviour of its central characters, ugly and brutal, killings, vengeance, sexual assault.

The violence is built up between the two central characters, especially as the deadline draws near and some people, wanting to escape the US brainwashing, trying to move to the freedom of Canada. So is the central character, also involved in cash and robbery, fighting bloodily almost the end, driving across the bridge into Canada, and deadly experiences.

The film is based on a graphic novel and rather exploits the visual themes and imagery.