Another Solid Effort From The Creators Of 'The Hurt Locker' & 'Zero Dark Thirty'

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2017)

From the creators of The Hurt Locker & Zero Dark Thirty comes another sharp-edged thriller that's brutal, violent & unsettling from start to finish. Encapsulated with a volatile atmosphere, unfolding with raw intensity & overflowing with charged emotions, Detroit takes hold of the viewers attention within its first few minutes and doesn't let go until the very end.
Based on the infamous Algiers Motel incident that took place during the 1967 riots in Detroit, the film re-enacts the fateful night that saw a group of police officers stepping out of their line of duty when they responded to an earlier complaint with retribution rather than justice on their minds and went further than just beating up the nine residents that they rounded up.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Detroit finds the esteemed filmmaker employing all her trademarks to capture the chaotic aura of the story's provocative content, and she manages to keeps things tight & tense at all times. The drama is gripping throughout and doesn't dial down on violence while the grim mood is further amplified by its frenzied camera-work & slick editing.
The Algiers Motel setting is finely detailed and the entire riotous ambiance is effectively recreated. The performances are no slouch as every cast member contributes with an emotionally compelling input and play their part as per the scene requirements. The strongest act comes from Will Poulter who sells his racist cop character so aggressively that it overshadows the other actors' inputs.
On an overall scale, Detroit is a nail-biting dramatization of a historical tragedy that may not be as accomplished as Bigelow's previous two directorial efforts but it is a sturdily crafted period piece that shares much similarity with the current climate of racism in America and shows that not much has changed in the last 50 years. Brought to life with cut-throat fierceness & further strengthened by solid performances from its cast, Detroit comes thoroughly recommended.