The other flaw is Simone. Let’s be clear here, this complaint is solely about the writing of the character and has nothing to with how White performs the role. The introduction to this bitch is her yelling at Jaylen to get out of the restroom so she can get ready in the morning. Mind you, her brother is shaving and also preparing for the day. So what does Simone do? She bumps him out of the way and tells him that he is done, period, end of conversation. Yes, siblings can drive each other crazy, but this is cruelty for its own sake and does not make sense in context. THEN! Simone’s next major scene is her being very sweet to Jaylen, trying to convince him to open up a bit more and attend the party. Is she bipolar? How did she go from one extreme to the other with no build?
Outsiders begins at the end, as Jaylen is being arrested after a car crash and then flashes back to play out what led to this moment. I was hoping after meeting Simone that Jaylen was being detained for her potential murder. Quite frankly, it is justified, and he probably could get a jury to find him not guilty. Alas, that is not what happens. If this whole redemption thing (again, not really delved into enough) is at play, then Simone’s disgusting behavior toward her sibling is why she’ll always be trapped in racist hell, and for good reason.
“…frantic and rousing in all the best ways.”
Despite character inconsistencies and the unclear tether between the allegory and the sci-fi, Outsiders still works. Washington stages several thrilling sequences with panache and verve, so the film is never dull. Jaylen breaks into the sheriff’s home, and the tension is so high it is a true nail-biter. When Jaylen and Tim first meet, the older man points a gun at the student, believing he’s there to make fun of him. This, too, is tension-filled and gripping. The entire film is frantic and rousing in all the best ways.
Then there’s the cast. While Manning has nothing to do as Susie, she’s reliable as ever. Diamond White plays the strange mood swings of Simone as well as anyone could. But really, the film belongs to Brooks, West, and Engvall. The young actor is instantly sympathetic, with his quiet demeanor hiding someone smarter than they let on. His natural charisma ensures viewers will be rooting for Jaylen from the first frame. West plays the tormented, frustrated Sheriff O’Hare with the right amount of anger and self-resentment. Shockingly, Engvall brings a lot of gravitas and intensity to Tim. He taps into a hitherto well of rage that serves the story well.
Despite some confusing moments and a character audiences will wish dead, Outsiders is engrossing and intense. The cast is great, with each actor bringing the most they can to their respective roles. But the real standout is Delmar Washington’s excellent visual style which maintains a thrilling atmosphere from start to finish. While this is not the creme de la creme of parable horror productions, it is a strong start for a filmmaker with something to say.
"…a strong start for a filmmaker with something to say."
