‘Black Heat’ Review: Well-Armed Angry Parents Rescue Their Daughter in a Lively Shoot-’Em-Up

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A unique sense of suspense is found when a thriller unfolds within the confines of a single apartment building or complex, as the enclosed space hints at hidden dangers lurking behind each door. Indie filmmaker Wes Miller’s production “Black Heat,” filmed in Orlando, may not present anything more than this basic idea, but it effectively maintains an engaging pace with its action-packed scenes, albeit sometimes straightforward.

In the movie titled “Dark Star Housing,” featuring Jason Mitchell, known for his role in “Straight Outta Compton,” and Tabatha Robinson (also known as rapper DreamDoll), portraying parents attempting to save their child from criminals within a vast housing project, the film could have benefited from some extra refinement, both in its script and aesthetic aspects. However, it maintains enough dynamic momentum to captivate audiences. Dark Star Pictures and production company BLacklight are jointly distributing this film to more than 200 U.S. cinemas on March 28.

At the start, the married duo Malik (Mitchell) and Alexis (Robinson) are driving in their SUV, having a jovial conversation about movies such as “Boyz n the Hood”, exchanging lines. However, it’s not until they arrive at what seems to be their destination that we understand they have an unexpected passenger – or captive, if you will – in the form of Kelvin (Garrett Lee Hendricks), who is tied up and gagged. They’ve taken him into custody to trace their missing child Taina (Talha Barberousse), a 15-year-old suspected to have gotten mixed up with some dangerous associates.

After guiding them up to this point, Kelvin decides not to offer additional assistance, instead delivering the distressing information that their daughter may have already been exposed to heroin addiction and sex work. Following a brief altercation, they abandon Kelvin in a parking lot near a large residential complex where King David (the rapper NLE Choppa) reportedly oversees various illicit activities.

Our heroes aren’t given a lot of background, but it’s clear they aren’t timid individuals. They put on what another character refers to as homemade SWAT-like outfits and carry an abundance of weapons, indicating their readiness for combat. Their aggressive style is such that by the end of their first destination (a resistant security guard’s office), there are already two deceased individuals.

As I delve into this gritty cinematic experience, the tally rises swiftly as the duo smashes open door after door among the 220 units. They stumble upon numerous intimate moments between irritated prostitutes and clients, inadvertently gaining one ally in the weary veteran working girl Re-Re (portrayed by Shiobann Amisial). It’s a fortunate twist that she possesses some emergency medical skills, as the number of adversaries we eliminate seems to be mirrored by the amount of harm we endure – especially when Kelvin manages to escape, prompting King David and his heavily armed squad to respond to our unexpected intrusion.

The essence of this story seems to be a battle between two individuals and a large force, which often leads to stylish gunfights, intricate fight sequences, and other dramatic elements, as seen in films like “Raid.” However, “Black Heat” lacks the creativity or extravagance in its presentation. The only unique aspect is some vibrant lighting to offset the monotonous setting, which resembles a motel room more than anything else.

In this movie, Kelvin sarcastically suggests to our characters that they should have watched the 1973 blaxploitation film “The Mack” instead of “Boyz”, implying it would better prepare them for their challenges. However, the movie is more sentimental than wildly outrageous. This is particularly noticeable in overly romantic father-daughter flashbacks and a cheesy plot twist that shifts the narrative towards soap opera-like drama. When her parents finally find Taina, her reasons for leaving them to join a cruel pimp come across as immature at best. Unfortunately, the actor playing Taina appears to be much older than 15, which doesn’t help the story either.

Despite brief pauses caused by insincere emotional scenes, the story’s advancement maintains its strong pace. Similarly, numerous logical inconsistencies don’t seem to hinder our characters; they appear unfazed by gunshots and beatings, with no authorities arriving despite prolonged gunfire. Much like old “Death Wish” movies, “Black Heat” offers a specific brand of vigilante escapism where realistic aspects aren’t crucial. Paul Koch’s synth music perfectly captures the spirit of a B-movie adventure that prioritizes excitement over accuracy.

In this overtly dramatic setting, I found Choppa’s effort to set his young villain apart by adopting a refined, flamboyant demeanor fell flat. Instead of instilling fear, he came across as more petulant than menacing, leaving us anticipating the arrival of a genuinely threatening character. In a subtle nod to the “gay” genre villains of yesteryears, King David donned a sequined jacket reminiscent of Prince and painted oil portraits when not physically abusing women. However, despite his questionable actions, the storyline led us satisfactorily towards a conclusion where Malik and this antagonist squared off in the empty swimming pool – both bare-chested for no apparent reason other than to display their impressive tattoos. The confrontation might have seemed exaggerated, much like the rest of the plot, but it still managed to deliver a satisfying resolution.

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2025-03-27 03:16