A Walk Among The Tombstones (2014) || A Noir-style Mystery
When I decided to watch this film, I was thinking it'd be another typical Liam Neeson action flick where we have chase scenes, shootouts and a man on a mission to right some wrong. But while it has its fair share of action, this film is more of a brooding, gritty crime thriller that digs into the dark underbelly of society. I read somewhere that it's based on a novel by Lawrence Block. That aside, the movie offers a chilling, noir-esque atmosphere that hooks you from the get-go and doesn't really let you off the hook until the very end.
(Spoiler Alert)
Liam Neeson stars as Matt Scudder, a former NYPD cop turned unlicensed private investigator who’s living with the guilt of a bad past. His life takes a dark turn when he’s hired by Kenny Kristo (Dan Stevens), a drug trafficker whose wife was kidnapped and brutally murdered despite paying the ransom.
Initially reluctant, Scudder agrees to take the case and uncovers a string of similar kidnappings, each with equally gruesome outcomes. As he investigates deeper, he realizes the perpetrators aren’t just conventional kidnappers, they're sadistic serial killers targeting the families of drug dealers, assuming they won’t involve the police.
Scudder, haunted by his own demons and sobriety struggles, kinda teams up with a street smart homeless teenager named TJ and dives headfirst into the grim world of crime.
My Thoughts?
One of the things that really struck me about this film is the tone. It’s not your typical action-packed thriller; it’s slow, methodical and drenched in a gloomy, almost suffocating atmosphere.
The rainy, gray skies of New York are practically a character of their own, mirroring the bleakness of Scudder’s life and the horrors he uncovers. This is a film that leans heavily on suspense and tension, rather than flashy gunfights or explosive scenes. And I’m all for it.
Liam Neeson plays Scudder with a quiet intensity and I admire that. He’s not the invincible, over-the-top action hero I'm used to seeing him portray (Taken, anyone?). Instead, Scudder is a broken man with a tragic past and Neeson’s performance nails that balance of vulnerability and grit. His stoic, haunted demeanor pulls you right into his world and you feel the weight of every decision he makes.
On the other hand, the villains in this movie are particularly disturbing. Unlike the usual one-dimensional bad guys in most crime thrillers I've seen, these men are terrifying because of how casually evil they are. They’re not in it merely for the money, they enjoy the cruelty, the fear they see on their victim's face, and that makes them all the more unsettling. It’s the kind of villainy that gives you chills because you know there’s no reasoning with it.
Also, I liked the dynamic between Scudder and TJ. It added a nice layer to the story. TJ is the streetwise kid who idolizes Scudder and their odd, mentor-mentee relationship gives the film some warmth amidst all the grimness. It’s refreshing to see Scudder’s tough exterior crack slightly, and TJ brings just enough levity to keep the film from being relentlessly dark.
Now, as much as I appreciated the film’s brooding style, I'll let you know that there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit too slow. While I now have a thing for slow-burn thrillers, A Walk Among the Tombstones sometimes drags its feet, especially in the middle act. I found my head dropping a little to the side and my eyes rolling which means I was wishing for a little more momentum to keep the tension alive. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s atmospheric but a bit of tightening would’ve made the experience even sharper.
And speaking of tension, I have to admit the climax didn’t hit as hard as I thought it would. After all the buildup, I was waiting for something that would make my heart race faster than Usain Bolt's when he took that race that gave him a name, but the final confrontation felt a tad underwhelming. It wraps things up, sure, but I was hoping for a punchier ending considering how dark and menacing the journey was.
Also, if you’re squeamish, some of the violence in this film might feel a bit gratuitous. It doesn’t shy away from showing just how brutal the world Scudder inhabits really is. The film’s dark tone suits the material, but it can get pretty grim. You might find yourself needing a palate cleanser after watching it.
This film is a solid crime thriller that’s more about mood and character than non-stop action. If you enjoy noir-style mysteries and don’t mind a movie that takes its time to let the tension simmer, this one’s worth checking out. Just don’t go in expecting ”Taken 4”
I'll leave it with a 3.5/5 rating.
PS: directed by Scott Frank and runs for 1hr, 54 minutes.