Blackway (2015)

In rural Oregon, Lillian (Julia Stiles) is stalked and attacked by a former cop called Blackway (Ray Liotta). Lillian enlists the help of two lumberjacks (Anthony Hopkins, Alexander Ludwig) to stop Blackway. As with many B-movies, Blackway is also known by its alternate title: ‘Go With Me.’

Based on the book by Castle Freeman Jr., Blackway is a much stronger thriller than it is given credit for. With touching drama, it explores women’s rights and struggles with sexual harassment. The result of this is audiences accruing a better understanding and mindfulness of the issue. Movies like Blackway help advance culture, through building empathy with its protagonist and displaying the upsetting corollaries of amoral behaviour.

Typically, Hopkins is fascinating to watch, for his confidence, nuance and expression of subtext. His character embodies this very dark film’s warm-hearted intention. This is shown when he whittles lawn ornaments in response to grief. That said, akin to Goodfellas (1990), Blackway is the ideal showcase for Ray Liotta’s talent. Even more so than in Something Wild (1986), Liotta’s pure-evil performance is hair-raisingly nightmarish and deeply affecting.