Movie Review: For Hannah – A Robbery, An Arson and A Bad Marriage.

Set in a small town of Pine Ridge, it is Christmas Eve in 1987 and there is been a bank robbery. The bank is burning to the ground and local authorities are scrambling to solve the case and find the perpetrators before they skip town. Meanwhile Chance, the robber whilst on the run stumbles across a farmhouse on the edge of the town. He breaks in the find refuge but encounters a husband and wife that live there. He takes them hostage but soon realizes that all is not well with the couple. As things unravel more dark secrets about the couple is discovered

Chance (Shannon Brown) is desperate after robbing the bank and accidentally setting it on fire. He has reasons for the robbery as we will find out later in the film. He breaks into Frank and Emma’s home to steal another car as his stolen getaway car breaks down.

Frank (Ric Morgan) and Emma (Carla Abruzzo) seem like a regular couple but all is not well with them. Frank appears to be controlling and abusive and Emma isn’t happy in the marriage. Their captor Chance, becomes the savior she is long for all this while. Frank on the other hand also has some secrets that are revealed as the story progresses.

Emma and Chance unexpectedly begin to get very close, but is just because she needs a savior? Or is it because Chance is more vulnerable than he appears to be.

Director John Wesley Norton succeeds at giving this film a throwback crime drama looks and feel. From the storyline and setting you get that the focus is on the main plot and the characters with very few distractions.

It’s a small town so there is not much to show. But the film take advantage to show a bit of scenery to give the film and it’s setting some personality of its own.

Talent wise, Norton makes do with who he has at his disposal to tell the story. The cast is not made up of really known names or faces. But they are enough to tell this film. A few of the actors however seem like they are just reading their lines off a paper throughout the film. But at least they do not completely mare the efforts put together to tell this story.

What really works is the film is able to keep a very intense tone keeping you at the edging of your seat in anticipation of something

The plot doesn’t just focus on Chance and his captives all the time. We get to see the frantic efforts of the towns Sherriff and his deputies trying to get to the bottom of the case. Through it all, we are occasionally given updates on the ongoing politicking on who takes of over when Sherriff Copper (Bruce Spielbaur) retires finally. He has been in officer for long and his old age seems to be catching up to him. He doesn’t seem like he is up to the task and occasionally buts heads with the much more zealous and motivated Deputy Gale(Suzette Brown).

Also, there is a subplot that has Frank at the center. He is a used car sales man, but he his business is just a front for cleaning money for gangsters and he owes them some money.

Just when you think the film is dragging on for too long there is brief action sequence that is enough to have you a bit excited.

In the end, you get the sense that this films story dragged on much longer than it should have. The premise was set, the characters were introduced and then the drama drags. The makers however are able to at least save some face with a climax that you wouldn’t immediately expect. At the very end the choice of title for this film is even more justified making it a bit more satisfactory.

As an indie film this serves you a decent crime thriller that is absolutely worth your while. I score ‘For Hannah’ 6/10. It doesn’t attempt to be any more complex than it is. The pace is okay yet leaves you satisfied in the end.

For Hannah does great also at keeping your attention span from start to finish. The twists and turns in the story make sure you want to be long for the ride, either rooting for Chance to make his way home, Emma to find the happiness she is looking for or for Frank to meet his karma.