Watch Black Souls

"Black Souls" is a gripping and atmospheric crime drama set in the rugged and isolated hills of Calabria, Italy. The movie tells the story of a powerful and dangerous criminal family, the Carbone clan, led by Luciano (Fabrizio Ferracane), a fearsome and ruthless patriarch who has built his empire through violence and intimidation. The story opens with the arrival of Leo (Marco Leonardi), Luciano's estranged son who has spent most of his life in Milan, far from the family's criminal enterprise. Leo, who works as a successful businessman, is initially hesitant to get involved with the Carbone family business, but he is ultimately drawn back into their world, despite his reservations.

Leo's return sparks tensions between Luciano and his younger brother Luigi (Peppino Mazzotta), who is eager to take control of the crime family. As the power struggle between the two brothers intensifies, Leo finds himself caught in the middle and struggling to survive in a world he thought he had left behind.

The movie's narrative is slow-paced, but the tension builds steadily throughout as the various power dynamics shift and evolve. The filmmakers create a vivid and authentically gritty portrait of Calabrian life, depicting the region's harsh landscape and the Carbone clan's violent and brutal way of life.

The performances in "Black Souls" are uniformly excellent, with Marco Leonardi conveying Leo's inner turmoil and conflict with nuance and subtlety. Peppino Mazzotta is equally impressive as Luigi, who is equally complex and unpredictable.

Fabrizio Ferracane delivers a powerhouse performance as Luciano, imbuing the character with both menace and vulnerability. He is a towering presence in every scene he's in, and his portrayal of a desperate and aging criminal leader trying to navigate a rapidly changing world is both moving and terrifying.

One of the most striking elements of the movie is its depiction of traditional Calabrian society. The Carbone family's power is rooted in longstanding social hierarchies that have little to do with modern Italian culture or values. This juxtaposition between tradition and modernity is a recurring theme throughout the film, and the filmmakers make a powerful statement about the corrosive nature of entrenched societal structures.

The movie's use of naturalistic lighting and authentic locations only adds to its gritty and realistic atmosphere. The Calabrian countryside is a stark and unforgiving backdrop, and the film's muted color palette underscores the bleakness of the Carbone family's world.

"Black Souls" is a powerful and thought-provoking crime drama that will appeal to fans of Italian cinema and understated storytelling. Its complex characters, nuanced performances, and starkly beautiful cinematography make it a standout entry in the genre.

Black Souls is a 2015 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 76.