In the Kansas-made indie thriller ‘Arrive Alive,’ execution lags behind ambition

Gina Bryant's indie thriller "Arrive Alive" boasts an intriguing premise about domestic violence that seemingly draws visual and narrative inspiration from “No Country for Old Men” while evoking the question raised by “The Burning Bed”: Is it self-defense to kill an abusive spouse?

In the opener, Police Chief Harvey (Emmanuel Cockrell) arrives at Josie’s house, a crime scene. She’s put a bullet in her husband’s forehead. He’s abused her for years, and tonight Josie hit her last nerve. The significance of the scene lies in its ability to raise that burning question. It also sets up our understanding of Chief Harvey’s character.

Ruby (Molly Strickler) wrangles Erica (Mercedes Hayden), an old bestie she hasn’t talked to in years, to help her track down Karl and take him out. But with money and murder on his mind, Karl proves unstoppable. Their pursuits culminate into a string of corpses contorted by greed. 

Writer Roy Nugen's complicated narrative wants to travel far and possibly deep, but ultimately the filmmakers’ reach exceeds their grasp. Genre, tone and style struggle to coalesce, each scene a shadow of its potential. 

Naythan Smith plays Karl Gallo, whose revenge-fueled murder spree drives the plot, yet the pacing stumbles more times than blood splatters. One finger-breaking scene feels meaningless — absent dramatic build-up, it’s just bone snap after bone snap. 

Violent scenes lack tension, reversals come too easily, and characters spin off their axes rather than grow. The single exception is Chief Harvey. His character setup pays off, as we understand what kind of man he is and what he’ll do when faced with a morally obscure choice. 

The film certainly demonstrates promise, but it falters in execution. It’s worth watching for fans of movies made in Kansas and indie thriller enthusiasts. Still, with tighter editing and refined rhythm, "Arrive Alive" could kill on screen.

The Details

"Arrive Arrive" Tallgrass Film Festival World Premiere Screening
3 p.m. Friday, October 25, at the Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway St. in Wichita

"Arrive Alive" will be available to stream online during the week after the in-person festival, beginning 10 p.m. October 27.

$7.95

Learn more and order an online ticket.

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