Philippe Lacôte
Killer Heat

In a cinematic landscape now dominated by reboots, remakes, prequels, and sequels, and those rare “original” films where plot and special effects compete to cause sensory overload, Killer Heat comes as a breath of fresh air. Or rather, sweltering, suffocating air. Finally, a thriller that makes its (relative) strength its simplicity, enhanced by an old-school voice-over. And I love voice-overs. That classic noir touch where the private investigator, with a half-empty bottle and a whole life in pieces, reflects wryly on the mess he's gotten himself into. But be careful not to be fooled: here there are no damp alleys or evil shadows. Killer Heat is set under the pounding sun of Greece, a summer noir with sweaty white linen pants and the blue Mediterranean sea as a backdrop. A combination that sounds as improbable as a garlic sorbet but surprisingly works.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt perfectly dons the role of Nick Bali, the cynical investigator who's seen better days and definitely worse nights. A Greek-American who finds in alcohol the most effective way to face the disaster that is his life. And so, Nick leaves Athens for Crete, called by Penelope “Penny” Vardakis to investigate the “accidental” death of his brother-in-law Leo. Crete, an island practically owned by the Vardakis family, becomes the stage for the classic “who-did-what-and-why.” If an unwanted member of a wealthy family dies suspiciously, the mystery is practically served on a Cretan ceramic plate.

From the start, Penny's intentions are crystal clear like muddy water. Her husband Elias is the identical twin of the deceased Leo, but apparently, the two could not have been more different - a device we've seen a million times, but that always works. Inevitably, Nick teams up with the local police, and here enters Georges Mensah, a police officer of Greek origin, at least according to the ethnically inclusive casting. Sure, one might question the choice of a black actor for the role, but one can also move past it. The deeper Nick delves into the mystery, the more it becomes evident that Penny is not just a diligent sister-in-law with paranoid suspicions. Who cares so much about the death of their husband's brother?

And yes, there is a twist - because there always is - and even if it won't leave anyone who's ever seen a noir film in their life open-mouthed, it's quite satisfactory. Provided that associating with crime doesn't disturb you.

Killer Heat doesn’t rewrite the rules of the game, but it’s a concise film, with decent characters and plot that entertains without pretensions. Directed by Philippe Lacôte, a Francophone Ivorian director.