Paula Patton is an actress in search of a film to make her a true movie star… sadly, Traffik was not it. The thriller arrived earlier this year, is out now on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital download, and finds Patton starring as Brea, a journalist who finds herself disappointed from work issues.
To take her mind off what is getting her goat, her boyfriend John (Omar Epps) escorts her out of town to a remote home in the woods. Sounds blissful, no? Well, after they encounter some badass biker dudes at a gas station that does not go so well, fun turns to fear before too long when those baddies find the couple and their friends at their plush woodsy abode, and a showdown commences.
Traffik gets its name from an element of the film’s subject matter. Human trafficking is a massive issue these days, particularly when the subject of those who are trafficked are young women. They are forced into sex slavery and writer-director Deon Taylor (Meet the Blacks) attempts a ripped-from-the-headline thriller that cannot decide between going deep with the issue or having his flick serve as pure entertainment, popcorn-munching cinematic escapism.
The film does largely work, don’t get me wrong. That is due immensely to the fact that Taylor has his flick leaning on the side of entertainment instead of preaching to its audience. With the titanic talents of Patton (and Epps for that matter), the thespians driving Taylor’s thrills deliver in every sense of the word. The duo have combustible chemistry, which is a major asset to a drama that finds people in peril. See, if there is not much spark between the two lovers, then when the you-know-what hits the fan and our leading lady finds herself tossed into trouble that firmly sits within that titular horrific experience for any human—the audience would not pull as much for John to find a way to become the hero.
That’s the other aspect of Traffik that is quite compelling. Patton’s Brea is far from a damsel in distress waiting for her man to come and save the day. She is just as capable of extoling justice in her own manner and between the two of them, prepare to find yourself nibbling on those nails a wee bit as this thriller truly starts thrilling. Patton is a revelation and is so in every role that gives her material that rises to her gifts. Taylor’s prose does just that and in her capable hands, dare we say, she elevates the material as she is known to do with other films that feature her name above the marquee—About Last Night, anyone?!
Then, there is Epps. He is also another one how is a blockbuster movie away from becoming a huge star. It is certainly not through a lack of talent that each of these thespians have not hit the big time. Then again, they chose films like Traffik that inherently will not appeal to a large swath of the moviegoing public. It is a tough, gritty film and simply knowing where the title emerges from will put some folks off from witnessing it. For those of us who appreciate a film that entertains while it enlightens and raises global issues, this is a journey completely worth taking.
One of these days it will happen for both Epps and Patton. The fact that it didn’t happen with this title is nobody’s fault, it is simply a truth given the subject matter and how it is handled in Traffik.
Who else charms in this drama? William Fichtner, another fine actor who should be more of a household name than he is, kills it once again on the big screen as he has so many times before—from Armageddon to Black Hawk Down. Then, there is a character that in many ways serves as the lynchpin for the thrills, Dawn Olivieri’s Cara. From her happenstance meeting with Brea in that gas station bathroom to the showdown at the remote house, the actress brings her A-game to Taylor’s thriller.
Journey into the Depths: Making Traffik is a bonus feature that clocks in at just over 16 minutes and finds some pretty solid interviews with the cast. Sadly, it’s pretty pedantic and offers not-so-much in terms of insight into what sets this thriller apart from others.
Of the two home video extras, the top bonus featurette—and a stunning one at that—shines the spotlight on the chilling cinematography work of Dante Spinotti. Deon & Dante: The Look of Traffik gives us exactly what we want from a behind-the-scenes home video extra for a film that has a look that elevates it from others in its genre. It is the visual tone of Traffik that adds to its tension, puts layers on top of the emotive power and frames every single scene with something a little extra that raises the bar collectively for the entire film.
Film Grade: B-
Bonus Features: B-