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Barron’s Cove Review: Garrett Hedlund’s Gloomy Thriller Fails to Deliver Reward

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In the mystery series “Barron’s Cove,” Garrett Hedlund portrays a character who inquires, “Do you have children, detective?” His new role is that of Caleb, a rough-around-the-edges father to a young boy he shares with an ex-wife who dislikes him. By the finale of this gripping tale, it seems many other characters share her disdain for him as well.

Regarding the theme of troubled fathers, it’s worth noting that John Woo’s action movie masterpiece, “Face/Off” (1997), starts with a tragic event – the death of a child. In a similar vein, filmmaker Evan Ari Kelman’s first film also opens on a somber note, and for much of its 116-minute duration, there are only brief flashes of appeal. Even “Face/Off” had energetic acting and extreme action scenes to counterbalance such a dismal opening scene; however, by the end of “Barron’s Cove,” even the most resilient viewers might find themselves weighed down by its unrelenting gloom.

Death, Lies & Cover-Ups

In the movie “Stand By Me” (1986), the story unfolds following a tragic train accident, which sets off the events in “Barron’s Cove”. Although other characters are involved, it’s the death of the protagonist’s son that sparks the narrative. The main character, Caleb, resorts to drastic actions, much like John Travolta in “Face/Off”, in pursuit of vengeance for his child’s demise. When Caleb and his ex-wife Jackie (Brittany Snow) learn that their son Barron (the film is named after him) has been fatally injured on the train tracks near town, Caleb embarks on a self-led quest for justice or retribution. The local police are slow to act, particularly since Police Chief Alberts (Marc Menchaca) has close ties with Lyle (Hamish Linklater), a shady character within the community.

In the scene where Barron, Caleb’s son, suffered a tragic end, Ethan, Lyle’s adopted son portrayed by Christian Convery, was present. His statement led to the case being closed as a suicide by a depressed individual. However, Caleb remains unconvinced, and so does Detective Navarro (Raúl Castillo), who is sympathetic towards Caleb’s anger while considering the possibility of a cover-up. Lastly, there’s Caleb’s boss Benji (Stephen Lang), whose well-groomed handlebar mustache symbolizes his powerful and overbearing personality.

Instead of regularly assigning Caleb various tasks around town, Benji often assumes a role that’s less than ideal as a father figure for Caleb. He relies on Caleb to extract money from business partners, even resorting to physical violence if necessary. When Caleb starts to break down after Barron’s death, Benji seems overly eager to push him to move forward, even discouraging him from investigating the tragic event. However, just when it seems like Caleb might give up, he takes a drastic turn and abducts Ethan, locking him away until Ethan reveals what truly happened to Barron. It’s challenging to find someone to support in this story as all characters appear morally ambiguous.

Hedlund: Head on Into Darkness

Thankfully, Ethan’s kidnapping doesn’t consume the entire length of the film. Instead, the most striking twist in Barron’s Cove unfolds as Caleb and young Ethan form an unexpected bond while hiding out at Caleb’s house. Simultaneously, a manhunt and a town-wide uproar occur, with Lyle, a prominent politician, showing his true, sinister nature as he struggles to manage the missing-persons case for Ethan. To him, Ethan isn’t simply a cherished child, but rather someone holding secrets that could potentially harm Lyle’s reputation during his election campaign. Despite the ease with which Linklater (who was recently seen in Nickel Boys) could portray this villainous role, he delivers an exceptional performance.

In Barron’s Cove, Lyle’s desperate attempts to maintain a good image are amusing, but the film’s persistent somber tone never lets up, creating a heavy mood that might test your patience. Unlike Manchester by the Sea (2016), where writer-director Kenneth Lonergan occasionally shows Casey Affleck’s happy past with his family, Barron’s Cove leans heavily on melancholy, leaving viewers questioning their endurance. However, there are fleeting instances of hope when Caleb finds comfort in his old friend Felix, played by Tramell Tillman (from Severance). Despite Hedlund’s commendable effort, these moments of respite are quickly forgotten as the movie concludes.

Well Go USA will release Barron’s Cove in theaters and on VOD on Friday, June 6, 2025.

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2025-06-06 00:02

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