Greetings again from the darkness. Padraic McKinley, a film editor by trade, makes his feature film directorial debut with one that feels like a throwback. And that’s not just because it’s based in 1933 Eugene, Oregon during the depression. This is a period thriller that maintains our interest through characters and setting and story. What’s unusual is that there are four writing credits: Matthew Booi, Shelby Gaines, Leo Scherman, and Matthew Chapman … usually not a good sign, but most of it works pretty well here.
Ethan Hawke stars as Samuel Murphy, a single dad devoted to his precocious young daughter Penny (Avy Berry, A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, 2024). Times are tough, and father and daughter return from church service to find they’ve been evicted. This leads to an alleyway skirmish resulting in Samuel being wrongfully arrested and separated from his daughter. Sentenced to a work camp run by Warden Clancy (Oscar winner Russell Crowe), Samuel’s resourcefulness in engineering the removal of a boulder and fixing up a broken down 1918 bootlegger’s car, impresses Clancy.
Samuel is laser-focused on getting released and reuniting with his daughter, so he accepts a deal with Clancy. The job is moving a supply of gold bars through the rough forest terrain before the government confiscates it. He has five days and must depend on a couple other convicts. We get a countdown through the trek, where they meet up with native American Anna (Julia Jones, WIND RIVER, 2017) and a creepy stranger (Cameron Brady). The journey is anything but simple as challenges include more than a creepy stranger … also, a dangerous rope bridge, campfires, weather, and mostly distrust, backstabbing, and greed.
The film’s only weakness is in the non-descript secondary characters, although the cast (Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynngaard Tonnesen, Sam Hazeldine, George Burgess, Alec Newman) does the best with what they are given. In fact, only Mr. Hawke, Mr. Crowe, and Ms. Jones are memorable in their roles, and what’s interesting is that both Hawke and Crowe quietly underplay their characters using eyes and body language, making them stand out even more. Hawke has really put together a varied career, and he’s coming off a terrific season one of “The Lowdown” (plus he’s had five Oscar nominations over the years). Oscar winner Crowe remains one of the most powerful screen presences when he’s in the mood.
As previously stated, McKinley’s first feature is a bit of throwback, but one with heart and depth … and plenty to keep us engaged (although I’ll admit Clancy’s infatuation with baseball felt like a piece was missing). Whether a happy ending is in the wings is in doubt until the very end.
Opening in theaters on September 18, 2026
Movie Reviews from the Dark 