HATE CRIME (NEWFEST)

Hate Crime

            According to The National Center for Victims of Crime, the prevalence
    of anti-gay violence on a national scale remains an unknown. This is partly
    because victims of this particular type of bias crime don't always report the
    incident. There are, of course, many reasons for this under-reporting,
    ranging from the fact that victims may still be closeted to fear of reprisals
    and retribution for pressing charges. The National Coalition for
    Anti-Violence Programs reported 4% increase in bias-related incidents in
    2004 (the last year for which figures are currently available). So it clearly is
    a concern for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
    community. Writer-director Tommy Stovall    addresses this topic in his
    debut feature film, called appropriately enough, HATE CRIME.

            The film centers on a gay male couple living in a Texas suburb.
    Robbie (Seth Peterson of TV's "PROVIDENCE") and Trey (newcomer
    Brian J. Smith) have been together for six years. They are firmly entrenched
    in their neighborhood and are on the verge of having a commitment
    ceremony. Robbie attempts to be friendly with their new next-door neighbor
    Chris Boyd (Chad Donella), a youth minister and son of an evangelical
    Christian minister (Bruce Davison). But Chris' religious beliefs preclude
    him from being "friendly" with a couple of homosexuals. One evening, he
    confronts Robbie (who is out walking his dog) and informs him that he
    is going to hell for his deviant behavior.

            Several days later, Trey takes the dog out for a walk and doesn't
    return. Robbie discovers his beaten body in a park and immediately
    believes that his neighbor is responsible. The female detective (Farah
    White) investigating the case shares Robbie's suspicions but lacks hard
    evidence to arrest Chris, especially after his parents (Davison and Susan
    Blakely) provide an alibi.

            Trey succumbs to his injuries and the case is transferred to homicide,
    things get a little more dicey. The detective (Giancarlo Esposito) in charge
    suspects Robbie of the attack. Robbie has to resort to any means possible
    to clear his name and prove that the killer is whom he suspects.

            Stovall directs with an assured hand and the plot twists are plausible
    if a little convoluted. There's a little too much that is schematic about the
    movie (such as the inclusion of a neighbor, well portrayed by Lin Shaye,
    who has a surprising tie to the homicide detective), but the strong acting
    overcomes the shortfalls of the screenplay. Peterson makes a fine hero
    and he is ably supported by Cindy Pickett as Trey's devestated mother.
    Davison delivers another fine performance and it is nice to see Blakely
    back on screen. Donella also gives a strong turn as the preacher's son.
    Special mention should be made of Darrin Navarro's editing, particularly
    a sequence that intercuts two different sermons, a fire and brimstone one
    delivered by Davison, a kinder, gentler one by Tom Marcantel, which
    contrast the differences of various Christian sects with regard to
    homosexuality.

            Although HATE CRIME devolves into something of a murder mystery,
    it also raises pertinent issues regarding tolerance, acceptance and religion.

                                          Rating:                B