When I first saw the title for Texas Killing Fields,
I thought it was a horror film - it's not. Texas Killing Fields is a
highly suspenseful film following two small-town Texas detectives in their
attempt to figure out who has been killing young girls in the area. This film
has some good points such as the use of music and the overall premise, but it
flounders a bit in other areas.
The main storyline seems to be about the murders in the
killing fields, but some secondary plot lines manage to thread their way into
the story and often overshadow what's going on. The scenes don't always clearly
transition or progress in a logical way, which leaves me trying to figure out
which of the three potential cases the detectives are working on.
On a brighter note, I love the use of music in this film.
It's used sparingly, but it accents the tension and is often the vehicle from
which a great deal of the suspense came. The music itself is very simple, but
the way the music accents the events on screen is fantastic. I love this
particular cast lineup. The actors fit into their roles perfectly, but I do
wish that their dialogue had been a bit stronger. Regardless of the writing,
the actors' performances fit into the film very well.
The director, Ami Canaan Mann, has all of the correct
elements to make what could be a highly successful movie, but she doesn't seem
capable of putting the pieces together. Had the movie been a little faster
paced with better transitions and a clearer storyline, I think it could have at
least had the potential for some awards. Stronger editing skills would have
elevated this film and made it much better. It's definitely a crime-thriller,
but the instances of confusion in the plot make it more difficult to follow than
it should be. Overall, Texas Killing
Fields is watchable if you can look past a few hiccups.
