The plot: a ne'er-do-well son returns to his family home after a botched drug deal that resulted in the death of the dealer's girlfriend. Hunted by the dealer, the son, now accompanied by his father, embark on a race against time as they try to outrun the dealer and find a way to make things right.
But that whole plot is basically a "McGuffin", a device to get things going while co-writer/director Christian Sparkes gets to what's really on his mind: the complex dynamics of a family torn apart by guilt, flawed parents, seemingly unredeemable sons, and the vicious cycle of psychological scars being passed from one generation to the next like a bad gene. This is a thriller, no doubt about it, but it is a thriller with heart. Will Patton, as the conflicted father of a troubled son, gives an affecting, restrained performance, and one of the best of his career. Helped tremendously by Sparkes' dialogue, Patton portrays a character that is relatable, tragic, and somewhat off-putting at the same time. A father haunted by his own shortcomings, and the fear that he's unwittingly passed them on to his sensitive son, thus ruining his life.
But it is Mark O'Brien, as Chris, the troubled son trying hard to do better, who is the true heart of the film, delivering a performance that is naturalistic, truthful, and devastating. It is one of the year's best.
Hammer works as a psychological drama, as a thriller with realistic twists, and as a piece of minimalist cinema. It is a well-crafted, poignant, suspenseful film with a lot to offer, and it deserves much more notice and acclaim than it's got. Highly recommended.
N.B. The film is named after the director's father, to whom the film is dedicated.
Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2021.
Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @Dark.Fantastic.AK·Writer
