The Damaged
USA 2018
produced by Joseph Ralko, Rob Cuollo, Vincent Cotroneo for sixtoomany Productions
directed by Rob Cuollo
starring Cody Alvord, Michael Gentile, Tim Whalen, Jim Walsh, Priscilla Anselmo, Joseph Cotroneo, Fred LeMoine, Justin C. Schilling, Flora McGill, Matt Ciaccio, Gordon Graydon, Reese Gill, Barbara Dilorenzo
written by Vincent Cotroneo, music by CO.AC Music
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Jimmy Dales (Michael Gentile) is a loving husband for his wife (Flora
McGill) and a loving father to his daughter (Reese Gill) - but he's also a
ruthless criminal, specializing on home invasion, burglary, and the
occasional murder.
Hunter (Cody Alvord) has fallen down on his luck, so he gets involved
with Jimmy and gang and helps with breaking into Father Andrews House
(Gordon Graydon), which the gang ransacks - but the Father's home, which
pushes the panic button with Hunter. With Jimmy not so much, as he shoots
Father Andrews dead in cold blood, and when Hunter starts to freak, he
shoots Hunter as well and leaves him to die. Only Hunter doesn't die but
manages to call 911 ...
The next day, the police show up on Jimmy's doorstep, but only find his
wife. As they try to apprehend her, she puts up resistance - and is
accidently shot dead in the process. This of course leaves Jimmy
heartbroken.
6 months later, Hunter is released from jail where he did time for his
involvement in above burglary, and all he wants now is to reconnect with
his family. But while his sister Allison (Priscilla Anselmo) and brother
Chase (Joseph Cotroneo) welcome him back with open arms, his father (Fred
LeMoine) is unwilling to even talk to him. The whole situation is of
course worsened by the fact that dad's a remorseless alcoholic, who freaks
out when one day Hunter pours all his alcohol down the drain to save him
and goes on a drinking bender.
Thing is, Jimmy has never forgotten Hunter and holds him responsible
for his wife's death - and eventually he's ready to with his gang invade
Hunter's home and take his rage out not only on him but his family as well
...
The Damaged is a very fine piece of low budget genre
cinema, one which takes a not exactly original premise and gives it a
fresh spin thanks to clever storytelling, supported by a directorial
effort that puts an emphasis on creating an atmosphere of unease, not so
much by the actual on-screen acts of violence but by the anticipation of
same. And of course, a strong cast really helps to make this one a pretty
good watch.
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