Violent Ends (2025): Review – Slow Southern Crime Drama That Needed More Gas
Violent Ends (2025), directed by John-Michael Powell, is one of those movies where the idea is solid but the execution drags its feet. Almost two hours of slow-burn Ozark mountain crime family drama… and honestly it felt every minute. I liked the core story, but man, if they had just picked up the pace a little it could have been so much tighter and punchier. Ended up giving it a 6/10—perfectly okay for one relaxed evening if you’re into moody southern thrillers, but nothing I’ll ever rewatch.
Starring Billy Magnussen as Lucas Frost and James Badge Dale as his psycho cousin, this R-rated revenge thriller is all about blood being thicker than water… until there’s money and power involved.
The Plot: Good Guy vs. Crime Family Legacy
Lucas Frost just wants out. Raised in a ruthless Ozark crime family where violence is the only inheritance, he’s trying to build a quiet life with his fiancée Emma. Then his cousin Eli pulls a bloody armed robbery that goes sideways, and suddenly Lucas gets dragged right back into the family business. What follows is betrayal after betrayal, uncles turning on nephews, cousins shooting cousins—because when dirty money is on the table, family means nothing.
What Actually Worked
The one thing I really liked: it shows exactly how crime families eat themselves alive the second there’s something to split. No loyalty, no “blood is thicker,” just pure greed. One minute they’re hugging at a family barbecue, next minute they’re putting bullets in each other. That part felt real and brutal.
The Big Problem: It’s Just Too Slow
Everything moves like molasses. Long quiet shots of mountains, people staring, conversations that take forever to get to the point. I kept checking how much time was left. At 1h52m it easily could have been a sharp 100-minute movie and nobody would complain. The slow pace kills a lot of the tension it’s trying to build.
Ratings and Critical Reception
- IMDb: 5.8/10 (777 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 69 % critics (29 reviews) / 69 % audience
- Budget ~$2 million → box office only $185k so far → total financial disaster
Critics say “beautifully shot but sleepy.” Pretty much nails it.
Final Take: Decent One-Time Watch If You’re Patient
At 6/10, Violent Ends is fine if you’re in the mood for a slow southern crime saga and you love watching family members destroy each other over dirty cash. Just don’t expect it to move fast or surprise you much. One evening, one watch, then forget it exists.
What did you think of Violent Ends? Did the slow pace kill it for you too, or did you love the moody Ozark vibes? Drop your thoughts below!
And please suggest my next movie—after this I need something that actually moves, fast crime thriller or anything with energy.
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