Charismatic Dermot Mulroney Shines in 'The Dirty South,' Marking Director Matthew Yerby's Debut Feature Film

Actor Dermot Mulroney is the reason to watch the indie film “The Dirty South,” directed by Matthew Yerby, who also penned the screenplay. This marks Yerby’s first feature film.

Set in Louisiana, the story centers on a very small town whose citizens are criminals, which is almost an unbelievable paradox since most of the population is dirt poor except for one family. Most of the scenes are shot at night (why?), so the film is literally dark.

In some ways, this is a family drama, but not really. This little town is packed with criminals, and most are dirt poor except for one family.

The story centers on a family’s dive bar that is overdue on payments and at risk of being sold at auction. The owner’s daughter and bartender get help from an unexpected person and go to unexpected lengths to keep the bar.

“The Dirty South” seems to look at crime as just a job option, a means of survival. Sadly, the film is very predictable and moves way too slowly, following a formula of sorts that is duplicated all over the world. Perhaps Yerby's thought process was, why upset the proverbial apple cart? Because let's be clear — he did not.

The reason this film is mildly entertaining is because of the charismatic presence of actor Dermot Mulroney. Let me be clear: This man can act. So please do not step into this film expecting interesting twists (there are none) exciting turns (absent), or well-placed surprises because you will be let down.

Another actress who helps make this film watchable is the lead actress, Willa Holland, who has done her best to shape her character, Sue Parker, into something of her own. As the daughter of the town drunk and the owner of the family's aforementioned dive bar, to keep it open, she’s often had to step into schemes that are not exactly full-on legal.

Shane West in the role of Dion, the “bad boy with the heart of gold,” is interesting to watch as well. This works well with Mulroney’s sketchy character as the only man in town with any money who just wants the bar because he wants it, painting him as slimy, which is essentially on point with the character in general.

The look of the film is solid, and the sound is tight. Most of the film is shot at night, which is always a challenge for a DP, but cinematographer Jess Dunlap did a fine job because those dark scenes are clear and easy to see.

“The Dirty South,” directed by Matthew Yerby, is a fine first film, thanks in no small part to the casting choices and, of course, the lead, Dermot Mulroney.