Small Town Murder Songs (2010)

A modern, gothic tale of crime and redemption about an aging police officer from a small Ontario Mennonite town who hides a violent past until a local murder upsets the calm of his newly reformed life.

Director:

Ed Gass-Donnelly

Writer:

Ed Gass-Donnelly

Stars:

Jill Hennessy, Amy Rutherford, Peter Stormare

6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jill Hennessy	...	Rita
Amy Rutherford	...	Ava
Peter Stormare	...	Walter
Vladimir Bondarenko	...	Deacon
Stephen Eric McIntyre	...	Steve (as Eric McIntyre)
Martha Plimpton	...	Sam
Aaron Poole	...	Jim
Ari Cohen	...	Washington
Trent McMullen	...	Officer Kevin
Erin Brandenburg	...	Officer Michelle
Kat Germain	...	Jenny
Jessica Clement	...	Deb
Andrew Penner	...	Worker 1
Alan Penner	...	Worker 2
John Penner	...	John Penner

Storyline

Walter is the chief of police in a small Ontario town that has its first murder victim, an attractive young woman who is found naked on the shores of the nearby lake. The woman isn't local and while the Ontario Provincial Police have taken the lead in the investigation, Walter assists where he can. The town is mostly a close-knit Mennonite community and Walter has recently returned to his church. He is also trying to deal with his own temper that led to a violent incident some months before. As the young woman is identified, it becomes apparent that Walter's former love interest may be lying.

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Plot Keywords:

police | mennonite | murder | redemption | fisticuffs | 

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, disturbing images, a scene of sexuality, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 2011 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Small Town Murder Scenes

Filming Locations:

Lucan, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,825 (USA) (3 June 2011)

Gross:

$30,858 (USA) (12 August 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Legged Dog Films, Resolute Films and Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jackie Burroughs final film.

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Goofs

The lights on Walter's squad car are not flashing as he walks towards Steve's truck after pulling him over for speeding. When Walter walks back to his car after writing the ticket, the lights are flashing.

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Connections

References CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

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Soundtracks

"I Don't Want to be Your Friend"
Written by Diane Warren
Performed by James Easter Bradford

User Reviews

No story, great everything else.

The villages, small towns are the places where, far from the the alert rhythm of the big cities, people find time for themselves, for introspection, remembrance, or/and redemption. Here's such a story... OK, not a story, really, but rather something vaguely resembling. Could have been a great episode in a series following the characters in the movie and going deeper in their life and psychology. Something like Durham County, maybe?

I found the movie almost by mistake, browsing in a lazy night the available HD movies on my fibe TV subscription, and seeing the TIFF stamp on the poster I placed the order instantly. My annual Andrei Tarkovsky phase, when I re-watch some of his films, was at an end, and this one was a nice step to the real world, coming from the dreamy-big-questions-and-endless-search-tarkovskyan world. I've immediately felt at home, with a familiar style and landscape, only much, much simpler. Something reminding of Fargo (1996, USA/UK), as many others saw the resemblance. With a lesser story, though.

Overall, an excellent crafted, but with an 'unfinished' feel movie. Absolutely worth watching. And more than once, if one enjoys great acting and fantastic directing, regardless the unsatisfactory plot.