Exposed (2016)

A police detective investigates the truth behind his partner's death. The mysterious case reveals disturbing police corruption and a dangerous secret involving an unlikely young woman.

Director:

Gee Malik Linton (as Declan Dale)

Writer:

Gee Malik Linton (screenplay)

Stars:

Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Christopher McDonald

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ana de Armas	...	Isabel De La Cruz
Gabe Vargas	...	Manuel 'Rocky' De La Cruz (as Gabriel Vargas)
Sandy Tejada	...	Yesenia
Ariel Pacheco	...	Naldo (as Ariel Rolando Pacheco)
Ismael Cruz Cordova	...	Jose De La Cruz (as Ismael Cruz Córdova)
Anthony Ruiz	...	Homeless Man
Stephen Thompson	...	Albino Floating Man
Keanu Reeves	...	Detective Galban
Mira Sorvino	...	Janine Cullen
Denia Brache	...	Gloria De La Cruz
Laura Gómez	...	Eva De La Cruz (as Laura Gomez)
Jeanette Dilone	...	Marisol De La Cruz
Danny Guzman	...	Gucci De La Cruz
Christopher McDonald	...	Lieutenant Galway
Leopold Manswell	...	Kendu Wallace

Storyline

Detective Galban Keanu Reeves, finds his partner and close friend, Detective Cullen, murdered in an underground subway. On the hunt for the killer/s, Galban begins to suspect his partner may have been heavily involved in drug dealing and police corruption. As Galban investigates, people who knew Cullen, are conveniently found dead. The closer Galban gets to the truth, both Cullen's wife, Janine Mira Sorvino, and his Lieutenant Christopher McDonald, try to persuade him to back off, fearing his findings may discredit Cullen and expose corruption within the Police Department. Galban's only remaining lead is Isabel, a young, devout, Latina girl, who resides with her in-laws. Galban fears her life could be in jeopardy should he get too close to her. However, Isabel has recently experienced something not from this world, something mystical that she believes is truly a miracle. Not unlike Galban, Isabel is dealing with her own demons from the past; a past that just may lead them to the truth...

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Plot Keywords:

police detective | police partner | policewoman | soldier | deception | 

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Taglines:

For Director's Cut, Google: "DAUGHTER OF GOD, VIMEO"

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence including a sexual assault, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 January 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Daughter of God

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Company Films, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films), Fortitude International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original story was a surreal bi-lingual drama, reminiscent of Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Irreversible (2002) that focused on child abuse, violence towards women, mass incarceration and police violence committed under the color of authority. However, the movie was sold to Lionsgate Premiere, which thought it had been sold a Keanu Reeves cop thriller. During the editing process, Lionsgate Premiere changed the story's focus to center on Reeves' character, and changed the movie into a generic crime-thriller. Gee Malik Linton wrote and directed the film, but since Lionsgate Premiere and the producers edited the film without his approval, The Directors Guild of America (DGA) allowed him to took his name off the credits. He is still listed as writer, but his directing credit is listed as "Declain Dale".

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Quotes

Detective Galban: There's this girl, she knows what happened. What am I going to do, bring her in? She'd be dead in a week.

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Alternate Versions

The writer/director intended the movie to be a dual language, Spanish/English social drama about violence towards women and child abuse. The producers instead turned the movie into Keanu Reeves cop thriller. An alternate version that follows the director's vision was edited by Roman Polanski's longtime editor, Hervé de Luze

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Soundtracks

Lucky's Merengue
Written by Miguel Eugenio Gonzalez & Pablo E. Gonzalez Yermenos
Performed by M. Eye and International P
Courtesy of The Emerald Tablets

User Reviews

Betrayed by its own fragmented narrative

While Knock-Knock was a mishap, Keanu Reeves still carries the buzz from John Wick, so it's peculiar to see his new movie flies under the radar. It's soon apparent that "Exposed" has a rather jumbled presentation. The movie uses multi perspective style and it does try to deliver heavy subject such as abuse, but it's ultimately too broken to create any appropriate connection.

The two perspectives are too messy, as though the screenplay or editing is done sloppily. Keanu's point of view is that of noir detective, although the investigation moves so slowly and erratically. Meanwhile Ana de Armas plays as a troubled wife who might just see some apparition. From the color tone, the pace and even the script, these two stories are utterly different.

It's not to say that there's not an artistic goal in mind, it could have dealt with mature theme well, however the jarring shift is confusing to say the least. It would jump from festive vibe, to brooding case and suddenly to what seems to be psychological thriller with metaphor. This is a really odd direction and it doesn't have to be such, it feels as though the movie tries to needlessly overreach.

Both the leads perform admirably, in some instances Ana de Armas looks amiable and Keanu Reeves still has his appealing presence. However, the plot is chaotic, there would be incredibly slow development and subplots, yet it would hasten abruptly in mere minutes. The few segments from other angles don't really pan out in the grand scheme, while its intended twist is hampered by over saturation of horror genre, which is odd to see in crime drama.

This kind of sudden change is not uncommon, some thriller movies shifted to more action atmosphere for casual audience or some action flicks would be altered to accommodate more famous stars. Still, the extreme shift of tone here doesn't have any appeal instead it's only a distraction.

"Exposed" could have had a surreal depth for narrative, yet it's a just a confusing mess that barely has any charm and even that small spark is muddle with messy production.