‘Double Down South’ Review – A Mix-And-Match Of Genres That Mainly Works

Saying that Double Down South, the latest feature by writer/director Tom Schulman (8 Heads in a Duffel Bag), is a mix-and-match of different genres would be an immense understatement. There are unique elements of a sports movie combined with an authentic Western vibe and finished off with a touch of a thriller. While the mixture of those different genres works for most of the 120-minute runtime, there are a few hiccups along the way.

When Diana (Lili Simmons), a young drifter, ends up in a shambolic, always busy pool hall run by the enigmatic but dangerous Nick (Kim Coates), she enters the unknown world of Keno pool and illegal gambling. While the men look at her like she’s just a piece of meat, they soon find out she’s so much more than a pretty face. This headstrong, confidence-oozing woman knows her way around a pool table. Seeing a young woman being the centre of a pool sports movie is certainly a breath of fresh air.

While Diana’s new to Keno pool, she’s a quick learner. Together with her new friend, young Little Nick (Igby Rigney), she spends hours and hours practising in what – thanks to the stunning set decoration by Brian Alonso (The Valet) and Tonya Haswell’s (Blood on Her Name) production design – looks like a very authentic and old pool parlour. While Nick wants to hustle cash from the big Keno players with his new female attraction (his words, not ours), Diana’s motives are much more unclear.

The mystery around Diana is undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind this film. Who is she? Where does she come from? And how did she become so good at playing pool? You’ll discover the answers to those questions the longer the games continue. When Diana faces her biggest challenge, Beaumont DuBinion (Justin Marcel McManus), the game in Double Down South is on with a capital O. Who will win: The typical macho man with tons of experience in Keno pool or the female underdog who can stand her ground in the masculine environment?

As you probably already noticed, a lot is going on in this movie topic-wise and genre-wise, and because all of those aspects mostly come together beautifully, Schulman’s intriguing screenplay works well. While the masculinity and ‘men are better than women’ aspects are heavy-handed, they make this movie so interesting. The slightly predatory men add a sense of danger, and seeing how Diana reacts to them and wipes the floor with them is much more intriguing than actually watching a game of Keno pool. Not only because seeing a strong female character on-screen is wonderful but also because Simmons (The Purge) breathes much life into her character. She portrays Diana with a lot of fury and strength and steals every scene she’s in. Simmons also shows the more vulnerable and fun side of her character, and with that, she proves that women can be both tough and emotional.

All the scenes she’s in with Coates are certainly the highlights of this feature. That’s also because Coates (Sons of Anarchy) is the perfect menacing villain for this story. He has the looks (those piercing eyes will make you uncomfortable in a good way), and his performance radiates a blend of charisma, power, and mysteriousness. He is extremely convincing as the guy who knows everything about the sport.

Speaking of pool, apart from this film being a sports movie, it’s also a Western through and through. While the visuals aren’t spectacular or over-the-top, they’re still very effective. There are many brown colours, old wooden rusty panels, the occasional cowboy outfits, and the gorgeously shot gritty outback taken by cinematographer Alan Caudillo (A Hidden Star). Together, they create the perfect Western atmosphere this film needs. While the Western aspect comes through perfectly, the thriller element does not fare as well. When thinking about captivating sports movies, you think about features in which exciting poker games, car races, and basketball are the main aspects. There’s nothing wrong with an exciting game of pool, but the Keno version is played much slower. Diana also takes her time before taking the shot as she’s unfamiliar with the game. Therefore, the games – which should add much excitement – slow down the film immensely.

On top of that, the prolonged and emotionless dialogue also contributes to the few pacing issues this film faces. The feature isn’t as fast-paced and witty as it could have been; therefore, the two-hour runtime isn’t justified enough. Ninety minutes would have easily been enough to tell this unique story of Diana, the men she meets, and pool/Keno.

While there are some pacing and dialogue problems, the cast is doing a great job of bringing the unique world of Keno and the complex social issues to life in an entertaining and thought-provoking way, ensuring that Double Down South stands out in its own way.

Double Down South is currently playing exclusively in theaters courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment.

[youtube https://youtu.be/xNWOUVY6vjk?feature=shared]