Out of Exile review
Out of Exile is a perfectly competent, slow burn heist drama.
The film isn’t lacking in production values, score, script or performances. It’s all solidly done and executed far better than most smaller budget projects. This is a case where there’s an intangible element missing that would make it a must-see.
Maybe it’s just as simple as identifying its inspiration?
Out of Exile has echoes of films like Heat, The Town and Carlito’s Way. Those films featured Academy Award winners in front of and behind the camera. As solid as the film is, Out of Exile lacks that dynamic, charismatic presence that elevates the material to another level.
Gabriel Russell (Adam Hampton, The Jurassic Games) has just wrapped up a 16-year prison sentence but seems destined to return for another stint as he’s fallen back into his old habits. A shrewd and calculated planner, Gabriel has been pulling heists with his best friend, Marcos (Wilson Navas), and brother, Wes (Kyle Jacob Henry).
Their latest robbery doesn’t go as smoothly as a security guard gets killed. This puts the crew on the radar of an obsessive FBI agent Brett Solomon (Ryan Merriman, The Jurassic Games).
Director/Screenwriter Kyle Kauwika Harris starts establishing some standard elements of crime dramas without taking them down the completely predictable route. Wes is erratic with a quick fuse that seems destined to eventually screw things up for Gabriel. He bought a new car and is irrationally jealous whenever anyone looks at his stripper girlfriend, Mandy (Rebecca Bartlett).
Marcos is far more dependable. He just wants to make one final big score so he can provide for his family and his wife’s parents.
Gabriel also wants to make amends with his family. While making things right with his elderly father (Van Quattro) seems unlikely, Gabriel hopes to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Dawn (Hayley McFarland). Dawn has her own trouble as she’s dealing with an abusive boyfriend, who should hope Gabriel doesn’t want to meet anytime soon.
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There’s also the matter of Gabriel’s contact, Whitman Rader (Peter Greene, Blue Streak), who seems seriously shady while offering Gabriel gigs.
If you’ve seen a handful of heist films, you have a pretty decent idea of the end game for these characters, but Harris takes some unexpected paths in getting to that final destination.
The performances are fine. Hampton largely keeps Gabriel’s emotions in check. Hampton stays within the lines of Gabriel’s reserved portrayal, but a more animated and excitable Gabriel is one area that could have raised the intensity of the film as a whole.
There’s a random, but well-done cameo from legendary wrestler Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts. With his gravelly voice and captivating on-screen presence, Roberts probably should have been doing these kinds of roles decades ago, but better late than never.
To help balance out the heavy crime subplots, Solomon’s investigation gets a decent amount of screen time. Merriman gives Solomon a confident/cocky air without making him arrogant specifically to his partners, Agent Jordan (Karrie Cox) and Agent Roberts (Josiah Overstreet).
With the focus on Gabriel and his crew, it’s tricky for Harris to avoid making the law enforcement officials seeking justice for a slain security guard come off like ‘the bad guys.’
Underscoring its budget, there’s no big complex action scenes. Harris stages some tense sequences, but they’re small scale and intimate encounters. As much as the film seemingly calls for it, there’s no chaotic shootout sequence to leave a lasting impression.
Out of Exile largely gets the job done as a lower-budget heist drama. It’s a certain spark away from being truly special, but it should satisfy the itch for genre fans seeking a new cinematic score.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Photo Credit Saban Films
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