'A Walk Among the Tombstones' - Review

Adapted for the screen from the best-selling novel from Lawrence Block, A Walk Among the Tombstones features Liam Neeson as private detective Matthew Scudder, who is hired by a drugs kingpin Kenny (Dan Stevens) to track down the men who kidnapped and brutally murdered his wife. Aided by street-wise kid T.J. (Astro) and Kenny’s own brother, Scudder is committed to wander the streets of late 90’s New York to find his prey and come to terms with his own dark past.

Perhaps the most crucial weapon that Tombstones brings to bear (other than the guns, knives, cleavers and other tools of the trade that the characters bludgeon each other with) is Liam Neeson returned to a situation that suits him. Whilst past films have utilised his grim, embittered demeanour, the problem with action fare such as Taken and Non-Stop is that the backdrop against which Neeson was placed were too ridiculous to take him in any way seriously. Thankfully the drab, unwelcoming streets of pre Y2K New York filling the frame here are a perfect match for our leading man.

There is a surprising amount to enjoy in the supporting cast too. Dan Stevens lends the initial charisma that made him so chilling in The Guest but alters it slightly to bring an edge of slime and is by far the most magnetic screen presence. Astro is very believable and watchable as T.J., with a backstory that is well-developed without the need for flashbacks or drawn-out exposition. The villains are quite clearly horror-thriller caricatures but as they aren’t the main focus this doesn’t become too much of an issue.

The criminally over-played ‘alcoholic cop’ trope is dropped this time in favour of a remorseful man searching for redemption for a crime he believes was his fault, and the focus on Scudder as a repentant individual who attends AA meetings, remaining vigilant of endangering what friends he has left makes for a refreshing and enjoyable character arc. Sadly the sheer running time devoted to Scudder means that the crime thriller element is given very little time to develop and the whole film starts to drag its feet during the middle act.

Visually, the film dispenses with stylised elements favoured in too many contemporary thrillers and aims more for the grimy, voyeuristic look of genre pieces from the appropriate 90’s time frame. The period setting also prevents an over-abundance of techno-gadgetry from becoming an overbearing presence, with the Y2K aspect injecting a distrust of technology into the mix. Even without modern technology, a selection of modern thriller tropes find their way into the final act and the ridiculousness of them do shatter the atmosphere. There is also a sense of impatience in waiting for a shocking plot twist that never shows up, which in the end makes the film feel very disposable.

With Liam Neeson back among surroundings in which one can take him seriously, and sporting a well-constructed supporting cast, A Walk Among the Tombstones is a perfectly functional thriller. While the thrills are unmemorable and largely predictable, they’ll be sure to provide satisfying entertainment for a couple of hours.

3 stars