Small Crimes 2017

Former cop Joe Denton (Joe Denton) finally sees a glimmer of freedom after spending six long years behind bars for crimes committed while entangled with a powerful organization. Known infamously as the “slash cop,” his brutal attack on District Attorney Phil Coakley has left a mark on both his life and reputation. Returning to his modest home, Denton is greeted by his elderly parents, who are not at all pleased with their son’s tarnished past.

As he seeks redemption, Denton finds himself entangled in an online share with his ex-wife, whose cold demeanor and veiled threats plunge him deeper into despair. Undeterred, he ventures out one night to a familiar local bar, where he reconnects with Scotty, the brother of his deceased partner, who extends a hand in support.

In a twist of fate, a chance encounter with the bar’s young patron, the daughter of Coakley, leads to a shocking incident of self-harm that escalates quickly. Following a brutal attack by two men, Denton retaliates with ferocity, leaving the authorities to investigate. Thankfully, Coakley concedes that the evidence backs Denton’s account and chooses not to press charges, igniting contempt in the eyes of Lieutenant Pleasant, who sees Denton as a blemish on the force.

Pleasant then manipulates Denton into engaging with his violent past by targeting the infamous mob boss Manny Vassey. By convincing Denton to eliminate Vassey—whose newfound Christian faith prompts a moral crisis—Pleasant dangles the possibility of improving Denton’s settlement with his ex-wife in front of him.

Just when Denton contemplates this morally ambiguous choice, he has an unexpected encounter with Charlotte Boyd, Vassey’s compassionate hospice nurse. Sparks fly, and Denton begins to develop feelings for her. However, his budding romance is threatened by Junior Vassey, the ruthless son of the mob boss, eager to eliminate anyone who ventures too close to his ailing father.

Amidst escalating tensions and increasing skepticism from his parents about his choices, Denton lashes out in frustration. After reconnecting with Boyd at a diner, they embark on a romantic relationship. However, when Pleasant threatens both Denton and his family, he turns to Boyd for advice on how to confront Vassey.

As Denton’s plans falter, Pleasant suggests an even darker path: eliminating Coakley. Yet, this time Denton refuses to comply. Instead, he resorts to dubious tactics, employing Toni, a local prostitute with ties to Coakley, to record their clandestine rendezvous. Setting a hidden camera in Coakley’s motel room, Denton anxiously waits. But chaos breaks out when Rooster, Toni’s enraged boyfriend, arrives, leading to a tragic series of events. Violence erupts, resulting in the murder of Toni and a brutal showdown between Coakley and Rooster.

In the wake of this carnage, Denton’s life unravels completely. A heated confrontation with his parents culminates when an unknown shooter attacks, leaving his mother gravely wounded and Denton lost. Seeking solace, he confides in Boyd, whose misguided sense of justice leads her down a violent path targeting Vassey. When Junior kidnaps Denton and viciously assaults Boyd, betrayal and despair engulf him.

As the pieces of his shattered life fall into place, Denton learns that Scotty was responsible for the violence that nearly cost his mother her life. In a fit of rage, he confronts Junior, leading to a brutal clash that leaves Scotty seriously injured. The revelation of Coakley’s death at Pleasant’s hands sends Denton’s world spiraling once more.

Desperate to regain control, Denton ransacks his parents’ home, searching for hidden dirty money. The discovery of cash ignites his rage as he vows to protect his children, but his father stands firm against his self-destructive impulses. In a harrowing climax, Denton’s father strikes him down with a knife, and in his final breaths, Denton orchestrates a cruel twist of fate, ensuring his father bears the blame for the tragic end of his life.