The path of true crime never runs smooth – and for poor junkie tinkle-man Sebastian, a night on the town is about to become another night to remember – and forget in writer/director Derek Presley‘s new noir thriller TONIC.
Sebastian Poe (Billy Blair) is gutted that his piano gig has been taken away from him. The money is essential lifeblood, given that he and his sister Elise (Lori Petty) seem to spend most of their days and nights spaced out on another planet.
Poe is under scrutiny from demanding corrupt police officer Terry Rush (Jason Coviello) who is none-too-pleased that money owed is not going to be money paid – seven big ones in fact. So, what is a desperate cop to do with a poor soul like Poe? Well, to settle up, he asks him to do a simple deed – do exactly as he says, go to an address and off a known scumbag and all will be even.
Inevitably, given Poe’s own conflicting traits, as well as his co-dependency on pills and puff, this is not going to be straightforward along the straight and narrow…
Classic man against the world noir (or vice versa) with echoes of Scorsese’s AFTER HOURS coupled with the usual suspects in a film that slow-burns on occasion, but does poise and pause for reflection on how down the world can become if an individual is pushed too far.
It’s all here for those discerning noir fans of the likes of The Coen Brothers, Tarantino and others but it makes valid use of the cinematic canvas, thanks to some striking cinematography from Azariah Biorvig and an economical sound pallet that is more reliant on space than intensive aural punctuation.
Petty, years on from her turns in the likes of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN and POINT BREAK, is still impressive, if under-used, as Poe’s air-headed druggie sister and that is one of the assets that this competent indie film will provide if it gets the right marketing after its’ festival run. However, do pay attention as well to support actress Ammie Masterson in another small but crucial role as Jane who comes into Poe’s life later in the narrative. She is somebody who lights up the screen.
Blair and Coviello are terrific as Poe and Rush too, Blair reminiscent of Michael Douglas as D-FENS in FALLING DOWN thirty years earlier. Whilst it may not have anything new to say in the gangster stakes, TONIC is the right one for genre fans who enjoy this type of noir.
TONIC won Best Thriller Feature at the Los Angeles International Film Festival 2023.
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