One of the most emotional things a person can experience is returning home from war. After a daily battle to stay alive being back home represents safety, love and security. At least it should. Many people feel that the wars that followed World War II were unjustified and their sentiments are all too frequently taken out on the returning soldiers. Films like ‘First Blood’ looked at the distain that was heaped upon the returning soldiers. The film ‘Dark Heart’ plays to a variation of the theme; a soldier who comes home but doesn’t find things much better than the war zone he left. There is rampant unemployment, violence and a general feeling of hopelessness that greats the home town boy as he returns from war. The film admittedly has its flaws but overall it is a gripping psychological drama that is literally ripped from the current controversial topics most of us are concerned with. This movie is not one that is intended to be watched casually; it is also at times not an easy film to watch. It realistically presents the problems that face the country through the eyes of a young man who was willing to place his life on the line in service of his country. This is also the type of film that will tend to polarize the audience. In this case the cast and crew and be proud of negative feedback for their work. It will spark discussion and that is one aspect of cinema that is extremely rare today.

Kevin Lewis has been around for just over ten years writing and directing films. He severs both functions here and does an amazing job with the dual functions. He has works in several genres with some emphasis on thrillers and crime dramas. He did have a comedy, ‘Malibu Spring Break’ to break up things a bit. A quick look at his resume will show that he is not concerned with cranking out film after film. There are usually a couple of years between projects. No doubt that some of the time was spent in obtaining finance but there is also a sense that he was looking too provide quality instead of quantity. He presents a portrait of the protagonist, Matt Taylor (Greg Joelson) finely drawn rich with detail. He could have opted for a more generic action hero but thankfully has worked out a complete profile for this character. Right from the start the audience gets the feeling that they know this man; they understand what makes him tick. This is vital to the progression of the story. Without this insight into the main character the movie would degenerate into yet another mindless action flick where the only thing of interest is how they blow things up. Here, a thankfully different approach is taken. This is a story that is ultimately about disillusionment. A man thinks about nothing while at war but going home. Once that day comes he is not returning to the dreamlike paradise his mind created but a desolate place filled with problems and devoid of hope. There is one plot line that takes the focus off of this, Iraqi treasure. While this does provide impetus for the drama the film would have been satisfying without it.

Lewis also does an excellent job as the director of this film. All too often violence is depicted in a cartoonish fashion. Objects explode with a blaze of fire and smoke while people are tossed about like leaves in a storm. Bullets rip through men with blood flying everywhere. There is usually no gravity to these actions. The spectacle is for the amusement of the audience with no regard to what such events would really cause. In this film Lewis brings a stark, gritty realism to the violence. People suffer when hit, they are in pain and he shows it in detail. This film is more about consequences than the actions themselves. He forgoes the usual quick cuts that move the point of view. Lewis seems to prefers to give one long shot to heighten the impact of the violence. He always keeps his eye on the strong narrative of the story hardly ever giving the audience a chance to catch their breath. This serves well here since it places the viewer in the mind of Taylor, a man who thought he was returning to stability only to discover that a new war was underway. Lewis has a unique approach to his visual style. He successfully goes against the Hollywood norm to bring a film that has punch to it. Instead of the typical quick pace cuts Lewis lingers over objects in the scenes. Taylor is rediscovering his home and the audience are pulled in along with him. Lewis takes his time in the pacing here. There is ample opportunity for the audience to understand and emotionally connect with this man.

The film opens with hazy images that perfectly set the mood. We see through the windshield of a car as a pair of blood soaked hands press against it. The driver, Taylor, moves out of the city into a seeming pleasant rural area. He pulls up in front of a modest house and takes his bag from the passenger seat; it contains a stuffed animal. Taylor stops a moment to look around at what was his home before the war. Jessica (Mageina Tovah) watches him c from the doorway as he comes up the walk; turning to move back inside before Taylor can get to the door. This is not a happy reunion. He mentions that he brought her the stuffed toy and she responds that that can not make things right. In all the years he was away there was not one letter; not one phone call. The color palette is pushed to the blues reinforcing a mood of distance and icy feelings. Jessica is Taylor’s kid sister and still holds it against him that he wasn’t there when their mother died. Dejected he goes off to the Stuck Pig, the local bar. Inside there are a few people milling about drinking or playing pool. Taylor goes up to the bar and says hello to the young blond tending bar, Susie; remember him. One man, trying to impress a couple of young women, Bobby Knox (Brian Howe) does remember him and the two have a drink together. They start by talking about the good old days back in high school. Eventually Taylor discovers that the town is on the verge of disaster. The mill that provides most of the employment is about to close down. Most of the remaining townsfolk are unemployed and anger is growing rapidly. Taylor is caught between greedy, violent men and the people he still cares about.

Lewis is expert in using light and color to enhance the emotional tone of the story. His does a very good job in letting you into the motivation of their characters. The DVD release is from MTI, one of the up coming sources of unusual little Indy gems. You most likely never heard of most of their releases but they are certainly well worth having. This film is just another example of the kind of films they tend to release.