To that end, the actors playing the cops (whose names have been changed for the film) are also quite good. Audiences will hate them with ease. As Sgt. Parks, Steve O’Connell is a hot-headed condescending douche who clearly gets off on the power being an officer yields. He is frightening, and one believes he can cause real harm to anyone who catches him on a bad day. Ben Marten plays Officer Jackson, and he sinks his teeth into playing an unhinged maniac. Together he and O’Connell make for the most terrifying villains of the year.
The third cop implicated in all this is the rookie, Rossi, wonderfully acted by Enrico Natale. He tries his best to convince the other two that things are okay, or at the very least, they should cite “special/unusual circumstances” in their report as to why they did not make a visual confirmation. If the first two cops are everything wrong with modern-day policing, then Rossi represents the ideals that get railroad in pursuit of the preferred outcome, which is not always the right or just one.
“The actors are stunning…”
Midell’s direction of The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain is fine, with some solid editing adding to the tense situation nicely. However, the film does come across as a bit stagey at times, as the cast is quite small and there’s only one location. But, the director is wise enough to emphasize his actors, and again, they are absolutely brilliant. Plus, the sparseness of everything highlights the true point of telling this story — the unjust actions of these police officers who have yet to face the consequences of their fatal and immoral acts.
The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain is a well-executed if a bit stagey, dramatic thriller that illustrates exactly why “defund the police” isn’t just a rallying cry but an important call to action. The actors are stunning in their raw performances, and the story will leave audiences infuriated. And that is precisely the point.
"…illustrates exactly why 'defund the police' isn't just a rallying cry..."
