Written and directed by Michael Matteo Rossi, when the matriarch of a family of assassins falls ill, her three children and younger boyfriend fight among themselves to take over her empire. Starring: Timothy Haug, Steven Martini, Mark Justice, Diane Robin, Jessica Morris, Cathy Baron, Tyrone Magnus, Jason Scott Jenkins, Emelina Adams and Vernon Wells.
Crime is a genre that’s been well travelled but still has plenty to offer, especially when a filmmaker has a little fun with the genre. That’s what Michael Matteo Rossi does with Murder Syndicate, now that’s not to say it’s a comedy, that sense of fun is about creating entertainment, not making you laugh. Keeping that focus on giving the audience a good time is where films like this succeed, and Rossi hits that note.
It’s a great concept and Rossi builds a tone and atmosphere which go perfectly with it. A fighting family, manipulation, power, violence, drugs, it’s a perfect combination to add a captivating amount of tension to the affair. Rossi’s directorial style is also nicely consistent throughout. Murder Syndicate progresses well, it does a good job of smoothly weaving its way through the different characters at play, and making sure they all have something to add. There are some stereotypical aspects to them but they do still have a charm and for those more villainous, a sincerely dislikable quality.
As the story progresses, it feels as though Timothy Haug takes the lead, becoming the key chess piece to how all this will end. Haug brings a good mix to the table, he gives his character resilience and fortitude but he’s also naïve and his moments of arrogance and indulgence become his weakness. On top which he’s fiercely loyal which helps to create a blend of qualities that give him an endearing edge. The rest of the cast is a good bunch of very big, loud personalities, after all they are criminals, it’s a cold-blooded world and they have no guilt about that.
There are a few weaker qualities to Murder Syndicate, firstly that you don’t actually see that much murder, or at least it’s mostly at the beginning and end, which is a touch disappointing. The violence that we do see does struggle with the effects work, the blood and carnage aren’t quite choreographed well enough for them to bring that big punch they’re looking for. Also the tone that Steven Martini and Cathy Baron bring as brother and sister has a strangely incestuous edge, which can be uncomfortable.
Murder Syndicate is a tense, brash crime thriller, with a great focus on entertaining its viewers. There’s a hugely vigorous and rambunctious cast at work, throwing themselves into these devious and dastardly characters. Rossi’s directorial style is solid, it moves well and will make for great evening viewing for any crime thriller fan.
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