In the Electric Mist (2009) Movie Thread

[Max Taxable]

If you're a fan of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series of novels you'll appreciate the way the filmmakers and Tommy Lee Jones bring this one to vibrant life. If you have never heard of Burke's novels or characters, this one gives you a fine introduction. Pacing of this movie is steady, the action never happens too fast or too slow but isn't afraid to speed up or slow down as called for by the plot, and the story carries on to its spooky end.

I loved the performance of the late Levon Helm of The Band, as Texas General John Bell Hood. James Gammon chimes in with spot duty well done, and John Goodman musters pure unapologetic evil in his role as the heavy in this. Ned Beatty is a bad guy too albeit a regretful one who can't repent in any way. Jones carries the Robicheaux mantle very well - he's exactly as you envisioned him in the novels, and Mary Steenbergen fits perfectly naturally as Bootsie in a performance not looking forced at all.

Marco Beltrami provides an excellent score that never overpowers the scene but adds subtle emotional overtones instead, and the cinematography and direction are excellent. Vastly underrated movie that strangely never saw US release in theaters. You'll get transported into the deep South of the US and will find yourself in the electric mist with confederate dead, and you'll feel the pain of the main characters dealing with ghosts from the past and loss for today. Stream it!

 

[Deleted member 63]

Hadn't even realized there was a Robicheaux movie. Not much of a mystery fan but I am a librarian in another life so have crossed paths with Burke's work in that capacity.

 

[Max Taxable]

Hadn't even realized there was a Robicheaux movie. Not much of a mystery fan but I am a librarian in another life so have crossed paths with Burke's work in that capacity.

I THINK (pretty sure) there was one in the 90s with Alec Baldwin as Robicheaux based on the novel prior to this one, in fact I think this may even be a sequel to that one. Suppose I could look it up rather than speculate.