Based out of South Africa, The Shakedown is the latest film by indie director Ari Kruger. Kruger is best known for his work as co-creator of the popular comedy web series SuzelleDYI. In his latest efforts, Kruger tackles the crime-comedy genre with co-writer Daniel Zimbler as the pair send Jared Diamond (Carl Beukes) into a madcap crime world. The Shakedown opens with a classic and sometimes cliche bizarre scenario freeze frame as a narrator reads, “I bet you’re wondering how I got here.” But this time, the scenario is Justin and his brother disposing of the body and clearly having no idea how to do it.
Cut to earlier, pre-body disposal and accidental murder. Justin Diamond is a wealthy businessman working with a lucrative tech-fitness brand. He has a beautiful house, a lovely wife, two kids, and a scandal-worthy secret affair with his physical therapist, Markia (Berenice Barbier). When Justin tries to break off the affair, Markia plans to extort Justin for 1 million rand. Justin concedes to pay her the money but soon realizes getting rid of Markia will be much more difficult.
When Justin’s attempts at dissuading Markia fail, he enlists his small-time criminal brother Dovi (Emmanuel Castis) to help his problem go away. But when Dovi sends some men to intimidate Markia into silence, everything goes wrong. Shots are fired, a fight sequence begins, and Dovi’s men shoot a woman dead, but not just any woman, the daughter of a mob kingpin. The Shakedown continues as Justin and Dovi seek to evade a hitman, persuade a corrupt Rabbi, and raise the money to buy Markia’s silence.
“…seek to evade a hitman, persuade a corrupt Rabbi, and raise the money to buy Markia’s silence.“
As a character, Justin is unlikable, especially with his affair and lack of regard for his family. He may seem like an average everyman in a film, but he is not supposed to be likable. But Justin is the guy who opens the film having shot someone in the head and is arguing about how to dispose of the body. Carl Beukes brings Justin to life with his sleazy, uneasy charisma, and he shines most when bantering with Emmanuel Castis as Dovi. As the film progresses into the madcap frenzy of a third act, Beukes and Castis share effortless chemistry as the film grows into Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘s dark comedy territory. Kruger uses the pair’s comedic spark well, allowing the actors to elevate each violent or gritty encounter with irreverence and wit.
Some subplots of The Shakedown meander a bit at the start and feel like they need to lead towards something beyond a few laughs (though they all end up paying off by closing credits, even the sex doll sideplot). The film takes a while to get going and spends much time setting up the solid but straightforward premise. Yet, when The Shakedown gets going, it’s a wild ride of botched murders and grime laughs. The Markia home invasion mix-up is funny, violent, dark, and shocking, kicking off a spree of even more unexpected turns and macabre quips.
Kruger and Zimbler take a while to get their footing in the opening of The Shakedown. There are many setups but few actual punchlines. But as the film progresses, Kruger and Zimbler steer into the magnetic charm of Castis and Beukes, guiding the two actors into the kind of duo comedy that thrives on the premise promised in the opening scene. The third act is a stellar piece of action-comedy, blending violence with humor in a manner that will still keep an active audience guessing. Despite the early struggles, The Shakedown evolves into a narrative that is dripping in dramatic irony and features one of the best accidental headshots since Pulp Fiction.
"…features one of the best accidental headshots since Pulp Fiction."
