“Spades” takes place in a city gripped by a string of brutal murders. It follows detective James Bishop, a haunted veteran who is forced into a deadly confrontation after uncovering a trafficking ring tied to the killings and his own fractured past.
While the premise might suggest a mystery, the answers are purposefully evident in “Spades.” The cast list itself reveals the identity of the killer, making this less of a whodunnit and more of a… whydunnit? Writer-director Johnny Yong Bosch keeps this story largely intimate, maintaining focus on James amid all of the pandemonium surrounding him. Because, ultimately, this is about trauma and recovery. James is a complex character to center on, suffering PTSD from combat, grieving the loss of his wife and having a strained relationship with his daughter. Bosch spends so much time examining the different facets of James’ life that he forgets to deliver the high-stakes thrills that many genre fans will expect. More accurately, however, he chooses this path. And somehow, it works.
Still, it will likely leave many wondering “what could have been.” A serial killer that marks every crime scene with a single spade playing card; it’s a great hook. Costume designer Edith Raya creates a hook of her own with the simple but effective skull mask. With these draws being relegated to short-lived scenes, a lingering thought of wasted potential remains. This doesn’t mean it’s completely abandoned, though. “Spades” delivers action set pieces with plenty of firepower behind them as it moves further into its 116-minute runtime.
“Pick a card, any card.”
Bosch uses various storytelling techniques to explore these themes. One of them is flashbacks. Right from the start, brief memories from James’ past are woven in with present-day moments. Another is surrealism. While the visuals typically remain muted, there are vibrant color shifts that emphasize the connection between James and the killer — and maybe add a touch of the supernatural as well.
Lengthy and stuffed full of ideas, “Spades” grows tonally inconsistent at times. When in the mood for dramatics, it seems like the action is forgotten about. When in the mood for thrills, it seems like there’s no purpose behind them. It’s easy to appreciate the different facets on their own, but difficult to have discernible takeaways when put together. While predictable, the ending of the film does at least blend them together. Rather than feeling pointless, this gives it a sense of impact as the credits begin to roll.
With a budget of approximately $50,000, Bosch and director of photography Polo Yazaki are able to do a lot with the little resources they had. The CGI is an obvious weak point, with digital blood splatter and muzzle flashes alongside fantastical effects distracting from the grounded tone. When the narrative remains in reality, though, the camerawork complements it. Whether characters are talking or throwing punches, close-ups are utilized. Much like the overarching plot itself, this keeps the attention on emotion rather than spectacle. Varied lighting sources like neon-soaked rooms and smoke-filled environments help to minimize some of the digital shortcomings as well.
Bosch (Spades/Jimmy) acts alongside former “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” co-star Jason Narvy (James Bishop). It’s Narvy who is required to carry many of the heavy moments. His performance is a quiet one, reflective of the character’s distressed state, but still full of emotion when necessary. Also appearing are Nobuaki Shimamoto (Saito), Maya Brattkus (Lana) and Henry Roe (Mack).
“Spades” is a passion project that mixes dramatics and theatrics. Bosch executes a compelling story with equally captivating notions in his feature directorial debut.
Rating: 3 out of 5
