A Violent Separation (2019)

What’s in your heart is told in your eyes

A noble young cop in rural southeast Texas (Brenton Thwaites) has to deal with his ‘black sheep’ brother (Ben Robson), including maybe covering for him when tragedy strikes. But will such a decision eventually destroy his life? Ted Levine is on hand as the snooping sheriff.

This is a Southern Gothic drama with crime thriller bits, similar to “Undertow” from 15 years prior, except that it doesn’t focus on kids. Like the best dramas, it fleshes out the characters and keeps everything in the realm of plausibility, refusing overkill. Effectively done drama that smacks of real life is somehow more absorbing than a wild action scene every 10-15 minutes, especially when it’s done artistically, as it is here.

Interestingly, three of the main actors hail from Australia: Thwaites (Norman), Alycia Debnam-Carey (Frances) and Claire Holt (Abbey), not that you would know any better. While all the female leads are notable, Francesca Eastwood is breathtaking in a small part as Ray’s lover.

A critic argued that there’s a continuity error regarding the locations. No, the story takes place in the rural areas east of Houston near the border of Louisiana. Ray’s car has a Missouri license plate simply because that was his former address. He was known to drift, which is why the Sheriff doesn’t bat an eye when someone says he left town.

It runs 1 hour, 47 minutes, and was shot in New Orleans & Houma, Louisiana (which is close enough to east Texas to work).

GRADE: B+/A-