The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain – Shockingly Disturbing
Director: David Midell
Writer: David Midell (Screenplay)
Starring: Frankie Faison, Steve O’Connell, Enrico Natale, Ben Marten, Angela Peel, Tom McElroy, LaRoyce Hawkins
Plot: Based on the true story of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were dispatched to check on him.
Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain starts when Kenneth Chamberlain Sr (Faison) accidently sets of a medical response machine in his home, unaware of what he has done due to his bipolar disorder. This will bring Sergeant Parks (O’Connell), Officer Rossi (Natale) and Officer Jackson (Marten) to his apartment to check on him, with Kenneth refusing to let them in.
As Kenneth continues to refuse entry, wanting the call cancelled, Parks and Jackson start getting more aggressive with their actions trying to get in, putting the tension between the two sides at an all-time high.
Thoughts on The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
Characters & Performances – Kenneth Chamberlain Sr is a marine veteran suffering with bi-polar disorder who accidently sets of a medical alert alarm from Life Aid, not responding, leading to police arriving at his apartment. He doesn’t want to let them in, refusing entry to his apartment, leading to him standing his ground, turning to people to help him get back to sleep. Sergeant Parks is leading the house call, getting tired of not being allowed in, he is trying to remain in control, but not taking the smartest approach. Officer Jackson has an even shorter temper, while Officer Rossi is looking for a more peaceful approach. Frankie Faison is brilliant as the man who trapped in his apartment with his mind not being as stable as it once was either. Steve O’Connell, Enrico Natale and Ben Marten show the different type of police involved in the incident.
Story – The story here is based on the true story behind the incident involved a medical alarm being addressed by police, as the whole incident spiralled out of control with tragic consequences. This is a story that show how things played out using the real recordings of the incident, showing how things would get out of control without the better training to deal with the situations, showing how some of the police would use their position to try and get away with the worst crimes. The story is filled with tension, as we see how everything starts off routine, before turning into a standoff between the two sides.
Themes – The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain is a real-life thriller drama, keeping the movie within the apartment area, with the two sides needing to try and gain control of a situation that is out of hand for no reason. The tension in the movie is intense, as the title of the movie tells the outcome, we are left to see how the events will unfold.
Signature Entertainment present The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain on Digital Platforms 9th May.
Final Thoughts – The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain is a shockingly disturbing portray of a police murder.
