Written and directed by Mitchell Cole, the crime drama Against the Spread follows compulsive gambler Anthony (Bobby Trovato) and his two nephews, Brooke (Mitchell Cole) and Lorenzo (Jacob Skinner), as they spiral into trouble after borrowing money from a ruthlessly violent loan shark named Shiloh (Jerome Cooper).
The story kicks off with Brooke’s remarkably unambitious plan to get a nose job, for which he needs quick cash. The seemingly harmless scheme sets off a chain reaction of increasingly unfortunate events. Anthony insists on Lorenzo’s presence when placing bets at a local bar, a detail that not only underscores Anthony’s deep superstition but also reveals the extent of his gambling addiction. This, in turn, sets the stage for further misfortunes that relentlessly hound him.
Nearly every character in Against the Spread is given at least some degree of backstory, and the performances are consistently strong, especially from Bobby Trovato and Mitchell Cole. While their characters might initially seem one-dimensional, there’s a surprising depth beneath the surface. Anthony battles personal demons from his past, and each time he glimpses a light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be nothing more than an oncoming freight train. Brooke finds himself in a similar position when he tries to impress a young woman he met online, Portia (Mary-Maggie Stewart), who claims she’s about to inherit her wealthy father’s estate. For Brooke, this too is a false beacon of hope leading only to disaster. The third member of this ill-fated trio, Lorenzo, falls in love with Shiloh’s daughter, Jamelia (Akira Jackson), and his path, like the others, leads to tragedy.
Anthony and Brooke face tense questioning in Against the Spread.
“…compulsive gambler spirals into trouble after borrowing money from a violent loan shark…”
While the film’s subject matter is undeniably grim, what sets Against the Spread apart from other crime stories is its streak of humor, particularly in the first half, and the grounded nature of its conflicts. The predicaments these characters face are down-to-earth and, in a way, the film’s thematic DNA is reminiscent of No Country for Old Men, but on a far smaller scale. Another strength lies in how the narrative makes clear that for Brooke, Anthony, and Shiloh alike, money is the sole driving force – a fixation that blinds them to all else, inevitably steering them toward a tragic end.
Against the Spread is an unpolished gem of its genre. Yes, there are aspects that could be refined, such as occasional imprecise framing, but Mitchell Cole makes intriguing visual choices and handles editing with a playful touch, allowing the film to breathe while still moving the story forward. And though plenty happens, the plot remains accessible and deeply human. After all, an unpolished gem is still a gem.
"…an unpolished gem of its genre..."
