Culprit is one of those slick crime thrillers that is far too interested in keeping the audience guessing rather than telling an actual story. As the film opens, Jack (Jamie Donovan) has his conviction for rape and murder of a young girl overturned on account of a technicality after already serving 28 years in the local jail. A free man, Jack refuses to leave his hometown and is bent on proving his innocence. Meanwhile, the townsfolk plan to take the law into their own hands. Directed by Rich Ronat and written by Ronat and Jamie Donovan, Culprit aspires to weave a sordid tale of small-town intrigue and secrets long buried. Sadly, it is so preoccupied with constructing an impenetrable mystery that the audience is essentially cheated.

After spending a few sleepless nights in a dingy motel, Jack gets the invitation to stay with Lucy (Laura Vale), the sister of the victim from years ago. Lucy believes that Jack is innocent… sort of. The two hope to gather evidence that will exonerate Jack and reveal the actual murderer. Meanwhile, Lucy’s mother and town matriarch Ava (Carolyn Mignini) is leading the charge, with the help of a crooked police department, to capture Jack and deliver their collective sentence on the presumed criminal.

The resulting film is a mildly watchable movie that isn’t exactly terrible, but not altogether on the level. The script simply doesn’t play fair with its twists, turns, red herrings, and other plot devices. I will admit that the characters are interesting. In fact, there isn’t a single one of them that wasn’t. Culprit‘s strength is the collection of suspects and strange individuals. That also, seems to be too much fun to resist for writers Ronat and Donovan as they mercilessly frame nearly each one of the townsfolk in a suspicious light.

Donovan is fine as the scraggly bearded convict with the heart of gold. The same goes for Vale as Lucy who goes through the film teetering between defensive and suspicious. I would offer a warning though to any actors considering a role opposite Mignini. She will upstage anyone with her fiery delivery and uncompromising screen presence. If you accept a role in a film with her, bring your A-game. She will chew you up.

The film looks great. Sam Ameen‘s cinematic camera work really frames things nicely with a classy touch. Additionally, Tad Dennis’s editing is solid and keeps a consistent rhythmic tone. There is also a great scene of practical effects work by Erika Schmidt that made me sit up and take notice. Craft-wise, Culprit hits most of the marks. But then there’s the unrelenting puzzle of who the murder is.

Watching Culprit I was reminded of what it was like to play Monopoly with my 9 year old nephew. The game would go on much longer than it needed to and when he was losing, the rules would magically change to suit him. Culprit was entertaining enough, but once it had the sense that the audience had any footing it would throw another arbitrary plot point into the mix.