Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, a woman is forced to clear her name to save her son in Terry Spears’ indie thriller, Beauty Grace Malice. Taja Brittaney stars as a single mother, Grace, who finds herself up against the wall. She literally wakes up one morning to make breakfast for her son when the police come knocking at her door. She is arrested for armed robbery after items related to the crime, including ten grand, were found in her car.
Living paycheck-to-paycheck, Grace’s life slowly but surely begins to fall apart. Since she has no money for a lawyer, she spends several days in jail to work out bail. Then, her ex-husband successfully gains full custody of their son. On top of that, she has to solve the crime on her own. With a rising pile of bills, the need for a retainer, and, of course, the need for food and shelter, Grace turns back to the oldest profession to get the cash.
Her only lifeline is private investigator Elijah (Marlon Ladd), who feels many things for Grace—thankfully, sympathy is one of them. Per Grace’s request, Elijah trains her to become a private investigator in hopes of getting her life back together.
“Grace is pushed to her limits but is solely focused on reuniting with her son, even if that goal feels out of reach.”
The best way to describe Beauty Grace Malice is that it’s good but very flawed. Most of the flaws come from the fact that the film is a micro-budget indie. We like micro-budget indies. Filmmaker Terry Spears has several indies under his belt, and he has the guerilla filmmaker vibe down pat.
The film’s biggest weakness is the cinematography. Most of the shots are pretty standard in terms of camera placement and shot composition. The entire film can be elevated by looking for more interesting angles and dramatic camera placement. Now is also the time to look into investing in lighting. Natural light is free, but film has a way of using light to create a mood. Take all this with a grain of salt because I understand the Corman edict of getting the shot quickly. The same goes for the film’s action. I like the fact that there is crime action going on, but I wanted more.
As a story, Beauty Grace Malice is decent. I figured out the whodunnit pretty quickly, but the film is more about the twists and turns that Grace is run through. That is the heart of the story. Grace is pushed to her limits but is solely focused on reuniting with her son, even if that goal feels out of reach.
The highlight of the film is Taja Brittaney as Grace. Brittaney carries the film as she is practically in it throughout. A lot is being asked of her in terms of an emotional performance, and her solid, consistent performance kept me engaged from start to finish.
Beauty Grace Malice might not be perfect, but it certainly packs a punch. With Taja Brittaney’s standout performance and a story that pulls no punches, the film shows just how far Grace will go to save her son. Despite its technical shortcomings, the film’s raw energy and emotional core make it worth the ride for fans of gritty, determined heroines.
"…pulls no punches."
