What happens when there’s been a terrible crime committed and somehow you or one of your associates are the prime suspects? It begs the question, just how well do you know the person next to you? For a small group of militia men, these questions and others will be posed as they try to get to the bottom of who just shot up a police funeral causing mass casualties. Each of these men have the means and they seem to have the motivation. Henry Dunham’s The Standoff at Sparrow Creek becomes a case of trusting no one as they all look to solve the mystery of who was responsible for this shooting spree before the authorities hone in on their location. Be prepared to be on the edge of your seats as this drama plays out.

One of the first thoughts that may find its way into viewers minds is that in some disconnected way, the style of The Standoff at Sparrow Creek could be some ode to Quentin Tarantino, in particular Reservoir Dogs (1992). This story is completely character driven, and these characters are only interesting thanks to the quality of acting and the compelling story presented. That was what Tarantino’s flick so good and that is what makes Henry Dunham’s offering such an interesting work. As the writer and director, this is a great full length feature debut for him.

Acting veterans James Badge Dale, Brian Geraghty, Patrick Fischler, Happy Anderson and Chris Mulkey bring their expertise in assisting Dunham by giving him very little to have to micro-manage. Even the less established ones such as Robert Aramayo and Bret Porter exist seamlessly in the tension-filled thriller. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is only as good as its weakest link. Thankfully, this performance chain is pretty sturdy.

Don’t expect to be blown away by something fantastic, and don’t assume that just because this isn’t a 40 million dollar production that it isn’t worth your time. The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is practical and it is engaging. You’ll care about the characters and you’ll also spend time trying to figure out exactly what’s going on. If the goal is to be entertained, have your brain stimulated and your curiosity piqued, well this could be an hour and a half well spent. You can check this one out in select theaters right now.