Some movies just slip through the cracks and this is one of them. Despite an all-star cast and an engaging story based on true events, Bad Country turned out to be just an okay thriller. There’s a reason why this happened and it’s a sad one. Director Chris Brinker passed away from an aortic aneurysm in the middle of the production. He was just 42 years old. His brother, Mike, replaced him and finished the movie. This is why the storytelling feels a bit messy and the atmosphere is quite deflated. Everyone who worked on this project wanted to see it through and gave it everything they’ve got, for Chris. And now it’s our turn.
Bad Country is definitely a movie worth watching. I think it’s enough to tell you that the leads are Willem motherfucking Dafoe, Matt Dillon and Tom Berenger. The supporting cast is just strong featuring actors like Bill Duke, Neal McDonough, and Amy Smart. Dafoe, sporting long hair, plays Bud Carter, a tough detective looking to take down a powerful crime organization. And one ruthless criminal, played by Matt Dillon, might just help him do that. Of course, the bad guys, which just so happen to be white supremacists are not going to sit idly by and watch this happen. And so the war begins.
The story in the movie Bad Country is based on one of the many cases Detective Bud Conner from Baton Rouge worked on during his long time with law enforcement. In the movie, his name is changed to Bud Carter (Willem Dafoe). Bud was a highly decorated cop who sadly passed away in 2023. Opposite him, we have Jesse Weiland (Matt Dillon), a hardened criminal with a lot of secrets. The sequence of events involving Jesse really did happen that way in real life. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just stop myself here. I could not find out what’s Jesse’s real name but I guess that’s for a good reason you’ll find out when you start watching the movie.
We will find ourselves in 1980s Louisiana, a lawless land full of corruption and crime. The movie takes full advantage of this intriguing setting. You can practically feel the moisture and cigarette smoke enveloping your room with every scene. Bad Country was aiming for that neo-noir vibe and as such it features some pretty stereotypical characters. So, I know that fans of the genre will know to appreciate this. A simple, no-nonsense approach was the correct choice. However, there’s almost no tension here. Then again, maybe this is exactly what you’re looking for, a gritty crime thriller to kill ninety minutes before you go to bed.
Oddly enough, the action scenes could’ve been better. They feel like they belong in some mediocre television show. Especially the final showdown which was quite unrealistic and contrived. The ambush that came just before it was fucking juicy though. Luckily, our cast played all of this straight covering up most of the problems. Dafoe was fucking phenomenal giving one hell of a performance and Dillon was just behind. It was so cool to see him jacked up and so tattooed. I wish he plays more bad guys in the future.
Finally, if you’re looking for more movies like Bad Country, do check out The Order. It’s also based on true events, following two detectives trying to take down a dangerous white supremacist gang. If, however, you want that sweaty, cigarette smoke vibe, Heaven’s Prisoners might be just what the doctor ordered. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is another highly underrated thriller well worth your time.
Director: Chris Brinker
Writers: Jonathan Hirschbein, Mike Barnett, Don ‘Bud’ Connor
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Matt Dillon, Tom Berenger, Don Yesso, Neal McDonough, Amy Smart, Bill Duke
Fun Facts: The title song, Whiskey Bay – The Ballad of Lynn & Jesse, was written and performed by Chris Brinker’s niece Mikayla Brinker as a tribute to the late director. The original title for the movie was Whiskey Bay. The change to Bad Country came as an homage to the seventies classic Badlands starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2350892/
