Hammer

Two men search a cornfield for a body. The man who left it there is panicked, confused, totally disorientated. He's not sure where he is. A dog barks. Could it have picked up a scent? They follow the sound. It's no body though. It's a snake. A snake eating it's own tail. Ouroboros. Eternity, the circle of life, continuity. It's one hell of a blunt metaphor in the middle of a film about the cyclical nature of violence.

Chris Davis (Mark O'Brien) has fucked up big time. A double cross has gone sideways and now he's on the run, his girlfriend has a bullet in her and his ex partner Adams is out for his hide. The only person he has left to turn to is his father Stephen (Will Patton). Chris's lifestyle has estranged them but that special father/son bond is a tough one to break.

Hammer is one of the 100's of indie thrillers that pop up every year on streaming platforms. Usually dull, always terribly acted by a cast you've never heard of. These are the films you'll never see in the cinema, films you'll skip by on Netflix and not give a second glance at. This one is worth a shot though. It's short, brutish and not terribly original but the central pairing of Will Patton and Mark O'Brien and the believable chemistry created between them gives this movie a zing you wouldn't expect.

Patton has always been a reliable presence onscreen, rarely carrying a movie but always good in support. Here we get to see what he can really do as a father willing to do anything for his son and it's the kind of work that would make you wish Hollywood had given him a proper chance as a leading man. He's the kind of actor, and he does it well here, who can change your opinion on something with one well delivered word. But he's at his best here when he doesn't have to talk, one disappointed look at his son giving us a wealth of history in seconds.

O'Brien as Chris nails his part too. That sweaty desperation of a person who knows his days are numbered, his terror palpable, run down and scruffy but far more capable than people seem to think. A nerve-wracking pawn shop scene stands out, marking him as one to watch in the future. Hammer keeps up this level of tension throughout it's 82 minute running time and shows up larger scale productions for the pad fests they tend to be. It's a story of violence begeting violence and how it effects everyone and everything it touches and that's it, no subplots or extraneous fluff. 

A lean and economic cautionary tale from director Christian Sparkes. One that's well worth your while.