Garrett Hedlund gets a meaty character to unpack in “Barron’s Cove”, a gritty and grounded crime thriller from writer-director Evan Ari Kelman. The 40-year-old Hedlund has proven to be a captivating actor when given the right material and he certainly gets it here. Kelman’s script may stretch itself a little too far, but it builds good drama and its characters are well developed and fit nicely within their complicated world, none more than Hedlund’s.

The story is set in the small Massachusetts town of Monroe City. Hedlund plays Caleb Faulkner, an enforcer for a construction supply company owned by his uncle, Benji (Stephen Lang). Caleb’s job is to ensure contractors buy exclusively from his uncle, and he does so by any means necessary. It’s not work Caleb enjoys. But he owes Benji for taking him in, and the money he makes helps support his ex-wife Jackie (Brittany Snow) and their young son Barron (Dante Hale).

Caleb’s life comes crumbling down after Barron is tragically killed during a horrific incident on a train track. The details surrounding the boy’s shocking death are hazy. All the police tell Caleb is that Barron was out on the tracks with two other boys, one of them being Ethan Chambers (Christian Convery), the bratty and seemingly deranged son of a crooked candidate for state senate, Lyle Chambers (Hamish Linklater).

Overcome with the guilt of not being there for Barron, a frustrated Caleb desperately tries to get answers. But with each dead-end he turns a little more volatile. Caleb is eventually pushed to the brink after Barron’s death is unexpectedly ruled a suicide. With no real explanation (and nothing left to lose), Caleb goes on a self-destructive quest for the truth. And that quest starts with Ethan Chambers.

I won’t give away where the story goes, but it takes some unexpectedly dark turns. Throughout it Kelman does a good job exploring small town corruption, with dirty cops and dirtier politicians playing key roles in how things play out. Interestingly, nothing is as cut and dry as it first seems. Kelman throws us several curveballs, especially in the second half. And while the back end isn’t as tightly wound as the first half, it keeps us engaged and guessing.

“Barron’s Cove” is a rural crime thriller in every sense. Yet underneath its rugged exterior is a surprisingly thoughtful examination of revenge versus forgiveness. It mostly comes through Hedlund who shrewdly channels his character’s torment and pain. The script leaves much of Caleb’s struggle on the surface, but Hedlund finds ways to take us deeper. It’s a rich and textured performance that fuels many of the film’s strengths and elevates the movie beyond its few weaknesses. “Barron’s Cove” opens June 6th in theaters and on VOD.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS