Little Lorraine, 2025.
Directed by Andy Hines
Starring Stephen Amell, Stephen McHattie, Joshua Close, Steve Lund, Auden Thorton, Sean Astin, J. Balvin, Matt Walsh, Rhys Darby, Kyle Ellsworth, Mike Dopud, Hugh Thompson, Kaelen Ohm and Sugar Lyn Beard.
SYNOPSIS
Little Lorraine, a North Atlantic seaside town with a population of 60, becomes embroiled in an international cocaine smuggling operation under the noses of multiple governments, distributed in coffins through a network of funeral homes.
The true Canadian crime story of a small Nova Scotia town becoming embroiled in an international drug trade is the focus of Andy Hines’ debut feature film Little Lorraine, starring Arrow‘s Stephen Amell and Canadian screen veteran Stephen McHattie. The film’s story is well told with a great cast led by Amell along with fantastic visuals of the Nova Scotian coast as the group’s drug plot becomes more complicated in a small town where everyone knows everything and a dogged investigator is on their trail.
The smalltown of Little Lorraine suffers a setback when their mine explodes and is closed down, the source of income for most of its men and families. To make ends meet, Amell’s Jimmy and his friends go into business on his shifty Uncle Huey’s lobster boat. It soon becomes apparent though Uncle Huey isn’t interested in just catching lobsters as he helps bring in cocaine from another vessel, drawing Jimmy into a high-profile case that brings them to the attention of an Interpol agent. Even as Jimmy is bringing in much needed money for his family, he fears the net is drawing closer and closer around him and those he can trust.
Amell gives a great performance as Jimmy, showing the dedication to his family and friends as he struggles to stay afloat. The rapport between him and the rest of the cast is built upon nicely, coming across as relatable and authentic in a town where everybody knows everybody and hard to keep things secret. His chemistry with Auden Thornton as Jimmy’s wife Emma is good, especially as Thornton conveys Emma’s own pragmatic view of what they should do to carve out a new livelihood, but Amell and McHattie are scene stealers together as the latter gives a memorable performance as the morally grey Huey, viewed by most of the town as a conniving and disreputable thief. Amell and McHattie carry the film as things go from bad to worse, testing the bond between the two family members.
The supporting cast also provide believable and emotional material, particularly Joshua Close as Jimmy’s longtime friend Tommy and Sean Astin as the local priest Father Williams. With the little screentime Astin has, he makes clear Father Williams’ empathetic nature and how close-knit their community is. J. Balvin as Agent Lozano showcases the character’s intelligence and determination while providing some humourous moments regarding the state of Nova Scotia’s coffee compared to his home country of Columbia. Matt Walsh similarly delivers levity as a local cop in a little over his head as he works with Lozano and Rhys Darby isn’t his usual comedic self as one of the main drug traders Huey and Jimmy meet with, but he gives plenty of colourfulness into his character’s personality that makes him stand out.
Hines’ script is engaging and, while based on true events, finds enough room to adapt and tell his own story. It is well paced with never a dull moment and the cinematography is not only gorgeous, but helps build a very compelling and tense narrative. For Hines’ directorial debut, Little Lorraine is a well-made crime drama focusing more on its characters and the impact their actions have on those around them led by a strong cast.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
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