‘LaRoy, Texas’ Review – A Backcountry Crime Thriller That Is Less Than The Sum Of Its Parts

With great films, or even very good ones, there is an alchemy. No film is just one thing, or at least it shouldn’t be. Some of the greatest dramas have moments of laugh-out-loud comedy. Even silly slapstick comedies must have at least a few moments of human connection. And yet, those moments outside of the chosen tone must not get out of control. But it is not logical or mathematical. There is no magic number that is too much, too little, or just right. But making a film is like dancing on the head of a pin. One step outside of that mark, and a film can easily fall apart or alienate the viewer. Pace is similar in that a viewer will know when it is off, even if it is difficult to pinpoint why. Unfortunately, LaRoy, Texas is one of those films that just misses its mark, regarding both tone and pace.

The film, directed by Shane Atkinson, clearly takes great inspiration from the comedic work of the Coen Brothers. Talk about movies that master tone and pace! This movie follows Ray (John Magaro) as he struggles in his marriage to an unfaithful woman, Stacy-Lynn (Megan Stevenson), as well as how his life intersects with a hired killer, Harry (Dylan Baker), and his friend, Skip (Steve Zahn), who desperately wants to be a police officer. Despite the largely oddball cast of characters, LaRoy, Texas plays it quite straight, to its detriment.

This was all stunning because the cast is excellent on paper. Dylan Baker as a contract killer? Steve Zahn playing…Steve Zahn? John Magaro doing absolutely anything?  This should be a slam dunk. And yet, because of how self-serious it seems, it becomes difficult to engage with the characters. The one exception is Zahn, who is clearly having a great time. But he is also the film’s biggest issue. Having a jester character is fine to break up the dourness of the material, but it stops working when you want the relationship between him and Ray to be the heart of the film. This connection never clicks, and it leaves the viewer with a sour taste in their mouth.

LaRoy, Texas may be the most frustrating kind of movie. You can see the bones of a really enjoyable crime comedy, just beneath the surface. It should also be noted that cinematographer Mingjue Hu shows particular promise. It is particularly impressive because the town of LaRoy is, generally, an empty space, a blank canvas of dust, worn-down buildings, and depressing vistas. Yet, the movie is never devoid of exciting angles and focused camera movement. Unfortunately, the script, written by the director, ultimately falls just short of the talented cast and crew. 

This is not to say that there is nothing redeeming about the story being told. It’s just that it feels like about five different movies. You could not pick a better soft man to get betrayed (repeatedly) than John Magaro. His interactions with both his wife and his brother, Junior (a perfectly pompous and enraging Matthew del Negro) ring completely true. You inherently understand simultaneously why he is easy to betray and root for him in the same breath. Despite this, the tone is still off. You want him to succeed but it is not quite moving enough for the audience to completely get behind him. On that note, it is possible that Dylan Baker is slightly too enjoyable to watch. You may catch yourself wishing that the film was more about him than the unfortunate residents of LaRoy.

LaRoy, Texas is certainly not the worst movie you will see this year. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near the best, either. It sits in that brutal middle ground. Not good enough to fully recommend. Not bad enough to laugh at. Besides watching Dylan Baker kill strangers and laughing at Steve Zahn acting a fool in a cowboy hat, there is not much to take with you. Watching a movie like this does us the favor of reminding the viewer that movies are miracles, and great movies are even rarer than that.

LaRoy, Texas will debut in theaters and On Demand on April 12, 2024, courtesy of Brainstorm Media. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7NsgGoAh4o]