‘Murder Syndicate’ Review: Who Will Emerge as the Victor?
★★★
Thriller (99 minutes)
dir. Michael Matteo Rossi
Starring: Timothy Haug, Vernon Wells, Jessica Morris, Steven Martini, Diane Robin
“When the matriarch of a family of assassins falls ill, her three children and younger boyfriend fight among themselves to take over her empire.”
— Official Synopsis
Let me start by saying that I love familial-crime dramas. One of my favorite guilty pleasures over the last few years has been TNT’s Animal Kingdom (2016-2022). In the same vein, writer-director Michael Matteo Rossi unearths a fragile empire on the verge of collapse. When Isa (Diane Robin) becomes ill, her family questions who has the capability to lead them and continue their riches in the world of crime. It will take trust, loyalty, and effective communication for the team to recover their crumbling infrastructure. Jonah (Timothy Haug) grapples with being the voice of reason but Zane (Steven Martini) remains devilishly convincing in his devotion to disrupt the hierarchy of power. Robin, Martini, and Haug all provide exceptional performances in their respective scenes. If one thing is true, it’s that Murder Syndicate doesn’t waste an opportunity to illustrate the talent of the cast.
Even the supporting characters fill the noticeably thin plotline with something a little more colorful—albeit, while having the least to do with ultimate conclusion of the film; yet, the dynamics between the family are nonetheless fascinating. Without a strong foundation of performative work, the minor emotional underpinnings wouldn’t quite stick as well for the viewer. These characters aren’t inherently likeable (if the opening scene was any indication), but that doesn’t exclude them from some resonance. In most instances, the actors are truly the ones elevating the material from the page instead of the other way around. Murder Syndicate leans into the dramatics of dialogue-driven narrative even in moments where the omission of spoken word be more effective. Still, the film manages to entertain the viewer beyond the minuscule hiccups.
Still from Murder Syndicate
Behind the camera, Jason Weary’s sharp cinematography accentuates the thrills of a crime drama, while maintaining the perfect balance in the action of it all. Being that Murder Syndicate classifies as low-budget fare, the set-pieces are creatively scattered throughout. Without an abundance of these sequences, the team had to get creative to keep audiences on the edge. Weary previously shot Rossi’s Shadows (2022) and it’s clear now the duo work exceptionally well together. The filmic language between the lens and the page are bridged, satisfyingly, for a cohesive atmosphere. Few filmmaking teams can pin a consistent tone from film-to-film like they can; and this symbiotic relationship extends to both the density of the heart-pounding action and the brooding presence of the characters they bring to life.
Murder Syndicate doesn’t reach for the unattainable—as its DNA is familiar and, largely, tired on a macro-scale. Yet, the intricacies of the technique are surprisingly refreshing for the indie scene. Despite the limited faults in the script, the film under-promises and over-delivers. If you plan to stay in for a night this summer, I have just the treat for you to throw on the screen and have some fun with. Whether you’re in search of the spiritual successor to Animal Kingdom or want a taste of the latest indie thriller, Rossi and his crew ensure an enjoyable experience for fans of this genre flavor.
Check out Murder Syndicate streaming on Vudu now! You can also buy the film on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and the Microsoft Store.
