Violent Ends Review – Excellent Story Driven Performances, Dynamic
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Friday, 17 October 2025 15:48
- Written by Janet Walker
Violent Ends, from IFC, brings to the screen a country cartel revenge drama, that comes alive with dynamic performances, a strong story, and palpable emotion as murder becomes the motive that causes everyone to cross the line.
The film begins with a wide shot of a countryside and sets the tone of the film. We understand where we are, the time, the stakes, and are savvy enough in the art of cartels, to know even family won't stop the bloodshed necessary for the accession to the throne.
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud Review – Poignant, Emotional, Real
Immediately we see a man hunting. He brings down a deer, and obviously skilled in hunting, he lodges a golf ball under the deer skin and ties the other end of the rope to his truck and slowly the forward motion skins the deer still hanging from the tree.
Still unknown to the audience, he is driving when the radio announcer explains the Frost Family brothers have once again been exonerated. When this scene is over we know he is Lucas Frost, played by Billy Magnussen, and on this day is visiting his uncle Ray, played by Matt Reidy, in prison. We also meet his mom, Darlene, played by Kate Burton, who is the local sheriff.
Today, Lucas explains he is going legit, he won't be coming around anymore. He is getting married. Obviously, this doesn't go over well, after all he is a Frost.
Wisdom of Happiness Review – His Holiness the Dalai Lama Presents Life Principles
The Kitchen Brigade Review – Entertaining, Charming, A Sleeper Hit
But love does strange things to a man, and for Lucas we see, he is willing to embarrass himself with a public declaration of love to Emma, played by Alexandra Shipp, in front of God, man, and everyone inside the bank where she works.
We can feel the change, and we understand they love each other too much, and something bad is going to happen. He is vocal about leaving the family business and crossing over to the other side, which in in this case is law abiding. Along with Emma, they are out early, taking care of business, discussing the flowers for the wedding, doing the errands, and make need to make a quick stop at the scrape yard. And we keep waiting as the tension is palpable, we know something will happen. Suddenly, during an armed robbery a shot is fired, and Emma is hit.
Darkness arrives as Sid Frost, played by James Badge Dale, is ready to ascend the throne. His willingness to do whatever it takes upsets the status quo, as the Frost brothers had each a profitable share in the drug trade, and now Sid, has decided the family business is his and his alone.
As Lucas was waiting in the truck, he hears the shot and sees his cousin, Eli, played by Jared Bankens, and despite his best effort Lucas is suddenly pulled back into the family business.
Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and The Biotech Revolution Review – Excellent, Informative, A Must See
The first act of the film is setting up the pieces, as we understand with the arrival of Sid, a darker chapter is approaching. Act two is the hunt, and we begin to understand, even as Lucas' mother tries to pull him back from the point of no return, he is set on revenge. Still smarter then his cousins, and as they are killing off the competition, Lucas tries to trade for his cousin, Eli.
So, with a duffle bag of cocaine, Lucas, along with his half-brother, Tuck, played by Nick Stahl, approach his Uncle Walt, played by Ray McKinnon, who we understand is not amenable to the terms. When it looks like it can't get any darker for Lucas, by chance he discovers information that may lead him to his target.
This sets up an explosive, shocking and climatic ending.
An engrossing film, Violent Ends is surprisingly powerful and dynamic.
The ensemble cast is led by Billy Magnussen, who delivers a palpable and forceful performance. Each member of the ensemble have moments where their actions speak louder than the dialogue to present the truth of their characters. We see sociopath, lover, fighter, killer. The acting is vibrant, frenzied, and believable.
Engaging, and captivating, Violent Ends is a must see and opens exclusively in theaters October 31, 2025, See it.
The Man in the White Van Review – A Haunting Psychological Thriller, Spellbinding, A Must See
Country: US.
Language: English.
Runtime: 111 minutes.
Release date: October 31, 2025.
Director: John-Michael Powell.
Producer: Undine Buka, Vincent Sieber.
Executive Producer: Alex Kim, Billy Magnussen, Catherine Fegan-Kim.
Writer: John-Michael Powell.
Cast: Billy Magnussen, James Badge Dale, Kate Burton, Ray McKinnon, Nick Stahl, Alexandra Shipp, Sean Harrison Jones, Matt Riedy, Vassiliki Ellwood Yiagazis, Damon McKinnis, Jared Bankens, Nathaniel Woolsey, Scott McLean Harrison, Bruce McKinnon, Travis Farris, Faron Ledbetter, Van Stewman, Jr., James Vincent Dean, Jay DeVon Johnson, Rhonda Johnson Dents.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
