Watch Stray Bullets

Stray Bullets is a gritty crime thriller released in 2016 directed by Jack Fessenden, son of renowned filmmaker Larry Fessenden, who also stars in the movie. The plot follows two teenage boys, Troy and Bowie, who while playing with a gun they found, accidentally shoot a man. Panicked by the situation, they decide to leave the wounded man and flee without telling anyone. The boy's actions set in motion a chain of events that collide with all the characters in the film's multi-stranded narrative.

With a runtime of 83 minutes, Stray Bullets is a fast-paced, low-budget movie set in the suburbs of New York City. The film opens with Troy and Bowie's playful atmosphere, but it quickly descends into darker territory when the boys make their terrible mistake. The audience is then introduced to all the characters connected to the gunshot victim. A standout performance is from James Le Gros, who plays the victim's accomplice, Warren, to perfection. His eyes are always glued to the newspaper or television, trying to keep up with the investigation into his partner's shooting.

As the plot unravels, Stray Bullets shifts from a character-driven drama to a suspenseful action thriller. Troy and Bowie, played by Asa Spurlock and Jack Fessenden, wander around as if they're in an entirely different world, ignorant of the consequences their actions can cause. Their naivety is both endearing and frustrating to watch. The pace picks up when Warren realizes that he is the primary suspect in the shooting, prompting him to take matters into his own hand.

The film benefits from some clever framing scenes, including a particular chase sequence that epitomizes the desperation of the character's actions. The action is punctuated by some stunningly simple lines of dialogue that drive the narrative forward. The cinematography captures the gritty urban environment without resorting to any cheap tricks, and the score sets the mood perfectly.

Stray Bullets' strength lies in its authenticity. The film does not resort to glorifying violence or painting the teenagers as icons of youth crime. Instead, it provides an honest portrayal of the consequences of accidental gun violence and the havoc it can wreak on people's lives. The audience can feel the mounting tension as the characters' lives intertwine with one another, and they come to realize that their destinies rest with the two naïve boys who went too far.

Overall, Stray Bullets is a brutal and honest portrayal of the ramifications of youthful neglect. The movie delivers a suspenseful climax that ties all of the narrative strands together in unexpected ways. It highlights the importance of the actions of all the characters involved and demonstrates that consequences have a ripple effect. The film may not be easy viewing, nor is it designed to appeal to broad audiences, but it is a prime example of what independent cinema can achieve with a low budget and an excellent cast.

Stray Bullets is a 2017 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2 and a MetaScore of 55.