Small Town Crime – Review

Likely a tiny budget film, Small Town Crime brings the subject matter of its title to life, featuring ex-cop Mike Kendall (Hawkes) waking up with a hangover, opening his garage and seeing his 1970 black Chevy Nova partly on the lawn having blown through his own fence.

Time for a morning beer and workout. And maybe a quick vomit mid-set. Good times. Mike is looking for a new chapter in his life and is applying to be a police officer again; however, it will take a miracle to clear his background. Despite this, Mike is acting the part, dressing in a suit, and looking for any jobs out there.

After everything from offices to farms, he gets close to offers, but eventually has to mention his problem with alcohol. It doesn’t land any final positions, but at least he has a bit more unemployment that he can spend at the bar, which he promptly does.

Mike has about one friend in town, Teddy Banks (Anderson), and the two get plastered together. Teddy is married to Mike’s sister Kelly (Spencer), as he was adopted into their family. Mike and Teddy get thrown out of the local bar for being too blasted. This is the life! Mike’s past however, does hold some wild events from when he was in uniform, and all he wants is redemption for his failings.

While alcoholic asshole ex-cops are absolutely nothing new to film, the plot offered here is actually pretty good as Mike’s drunkenness allows him to stumble across a severely wounded Jane Doe, and despite being long off the force, he does what he can to help. As criminal webs start to form, can Mike solve something, or will his belligerently drunk ass see his way off this mortal coil?

The story is good enough and the cast is well rounded despite any budget constraints. This one is worth watching for crime movie fans as it checks most boxes. Come find out what secrets this small town hides.