Texas Killing Fields
The story centers around two investigations. A young prostitute is found dead, and two Texas City detectives, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Sam Worthington, are on the case. In a neighboring jurisdiction, Jessica Chastain investigates a series of young women disappearing in a swampy area near oil refineries, known to the locals as the "killing fields." Despite having federal assistance, she wants Morgan's help.
Morgan is a tortured fellow, a devout Catholic who comes from New York. Worthington grew up in the area, and is Chastain's ex-husband. He usually plays the bad cop with Morgan as the good, although late in the film Morgan loses his cool. Morgan also tries to look out for the teenage daughter of a prostitute, Chloe Grace Moretz.
While some films go overboard with exposition, Texas Killing Fields gives us practically none. We are left to guess why Morgan left New York (there is a short conversation with his wife, a wasted Annabeth Gish, about why they ended up in Texas City, but no answers), and we're really not sure how many girls have died in the fields. The film also displays some of the most incompetent policing I've ever seen, such as when Worthington, ready to arrest suspects, allows them to destroy evidence and then get away after a car chase. Was there only one patrol car in the entire city? And why hasn't child protective services taken Moretz out of a home where she is kicked out whenever mom is servicing a john?
Another problem is that the serial killer is easily identifiable from the first time we see him, as his demeanor screams, "Serial Killer!"
The film was directed by Ami Canaan Mann, daughter of Michael Mann, and while she shows a talent for creating mood, could have used some pointers about story telling. The film was still interesting, especially for Morgan's performance. I have always felt he was an under-rated actor and should have more prominent roles than he does.
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