Ahmed Farid Hassan makes his debut as a director, writer, producer, editor, and actor with Without Morals. The thriller starts with Metal (Ziad Alezabi) and Slug (Saron Vanturi) preparing to burgle a posh house whose owner is away. But in doing so, they witness One-Eye (Michael De Los Angeles) and his thugs kidnap a young boy named Will (Noah Lang) and murder his mom. Yes, the duo are criminals, but even they have lines in the sand, so they save the boy but leave the kidnappers alive to get answers. Interrogating One-Eye leaves Metal and Slug with fewer answers and more questions about why these people want Will. And how exactly does the kidnapper know so much about the robbers?
Running 2 hours and 4 minutes long, including credits, the film is a tad overlong. There’s a subplot involving Fio (Alice Jamal), Marco, and some others being picked off by a gang known as the Dead Cherubs. While it is interesting in its own right, it often distracts from the main narrative and features so many characters that it becomes confusing to keep track of who is who, where they are, and their connections to everyone else. While the Dead Cherubs gang becomes vital at the end, there’s a more streamlined way of getting the gang in without distracting from the moral quandary facing Metal, Slug, and Will.
Saron Vanturi and Ziad Alezabi in a tense moment from Without Morals
“Interrogating One-Eye leaves Metal and Slug with fewer answers and more questions about why these people want Will.”
However, when Without Morals focuses on the robbers, the kidnappers, and the child, it becomes quite involving. The dynamic between Metal and Slug works, as they feel like friends as well as rough-and-tumble lowlifes. Slug’s desire to protect Will at all costs makes 100% sense, especially as more and more of his backstory is revealed. One-Eye is a great bad guy, messing with the protagonists’ minds as he does. He’s very clever and intimidating, and the screenplay never reveals when he’s lying versus telling the truth, creating a tense atmosphere whenever he’s on screen.
It certainly helps that the cast is engaging. Vanturi is the heart of the film, anchoring the story with raw emotions and charisma. Alezabi is the zanier of the two leads, but his comedic sensibilities never clash with the moral heaviness of the story. De Los Angeles is a frightening yet entertaining antagonist, playing the part as if he were a god, knowing everything that’s about to happen. Lang is sweet and likable, though a few line readings could have benefited from another take.
Without Morals asks tough questions about a person’s sense of morality, what it takes to make them cross it, and the insane people who want them to. Yes, the plot becomes too convoluted at times, but the strong themes and interesting main characters keep things moving forward. The cast is also quite good, with the actors proving to understand the weight material quite well.
For more information, visit the official Without Morals Instagram page.
"…asks tough questions about a person's sense of morality..."
