Writer: Paul Epstein, Rand Marsh (Screenplay)
Starring: Wade Williams, Samaire Armstrong, Tracey Needham, Brendan Bradley, Stephanie Lemelin, Ryan Sypek
Plot: A cop on the verge is sent to his small hometown to shape up. When a girl no one cares about goes missing, his slow recovery ends abruptly.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Slow Murder Mystery
Story: The Last Harbour starts with our Boston Detective Ian (Williams) who has caused the a problem by beating up a suspect as he struggles with his drinking problem. Ian gets a choice downgrade of homicide or returning to his home town Salem harbor where no crimes ever seem to be committed. Ian chooses to return home to be with his family daughter Leanne (Highsmith), so he can clean up and potential start a fresh life.
What should have been as easy job with little crime gets complicated when one of the guests in the local hotel Allison Stone (Lemelin) goes missing. When the manager of the hotel Sarah Stone (Needham) starts making things difficult by suggesting the Allison could be a call girl while other staff member suggest that Allison was dating Sarah’s son Matt (Sypek). Ian continues to follow the leads which take her to rich local Roxanne Hall (Armstrong).
We continue to see Ian question the town’s people as he is struggling with the help being offered to him by the locals to help him deal with his alcohol problems. Ian has a list of suspect now he has to put together the puzzle but what is really going on with the disappearance of Allison Stone. Everything changes when the body turns up and a simple missing persons case turns into a murder, but whoo did it?
The Last Harbour gives us a murder mystery that manages to mixing in the old school broken lead character who needs to learn from his mistakes. We get very simple introduction to meet the suspects that all works to help us make up our minds with what is going on without giving too much away. I will say it moves at a slow pass and you are always waiting for a big twist that never really comes out fully. This would be a solid police episode but not strong enough for a film. (5/10)
Actor Review
Wade Williams: Ian is the alcoholic police officer who has to take a job back in his own small town after causing a problem in Boston, he gets stuck investigating a missing persons case while dealing with the mistakes in his own personal life with his daughter. Wade does a good job in the struggling detective give a second chance to clean himself up. (7/10)
Samaire Armstrong: Roxanne Hall is the rich member of the community who has a yacht after her father dies, she is one of the suspects in the missing persons case with Allison last being seen on her yacht. Samaire does a solid job in the supporting role as one of the suspects. (6/10)
Tracey Needham: Sarah Sharpe is the manager of the hotel who tries to push Ian away from her son as a suspect. Tracey does a solid job but doesn’t get enough screen time. (5/10)
Austin Highsmith: Leanne is the daughter of Ian who takes him in even after his problems in her child hood with his alcohol abuse. Austin does a solid job as the supportive daughter trying to give her father a second chance. (6/10)
Ryan Sypek: Matt Sharpe is the prime suspect because of the connection he is meant to have had with Allison Stone, he does have a connection with her final known sighting but was he really involved. Ryan does a solid job but never really shines through. (6/10)
Support Cast: The Last Harbour has a supporting cast that does include suspects and people around the town that could have the answers that Ian is looking for.
Director Review: Paul Epstein – Paul does a solid job directing but never lets this film reach the levels it would need to be a truly mysterious film. (5/10)
Mystery: The Last Harbour does keep you guessing about who is responsible for the murder by giving us a nice list of suspects. (8/10)
Thriller: The Last Harbour keeps us wondering but doesn’t pull us into the story as much of a probably should have. (5/10)
Settings: The Last Harbour builds a very tight knit community for the film to use as it settings. (8/10)
Suggestion: The Last Harbour is one to try but don’t expect it to be brilliant just very solid for murder mystery fans. (Mystery Fans Try)
Best Part: Wade Williams performance.
Worst Part: Slightly slow.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: Insomnia
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $8 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes
Overall: Slow moving murder mystery that will keep you guessing.
Rating