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★★★
Directed by: #MarekDabrowski and #DzikoKazembe
Starring: #HannahHoad, #JudsonVaughan, #ChristopherFosh, #DuaineASamuels and #GeorgeMcCluskey
In an age where knife crime grabs the spotlight, it’s easy to forget the ongoing war against drugs. Indie film White Powder aims to explore the trade in human weakness and desire for power. A small time Charlie spots an opportunity to play with the big boys but how is all going to end? Justin (Judson Vaughn) is a coke head who dreams of moving up the leagues. A local dealer has been found dead in a hotel room and wonders if there has been a shift in power.
Justin gets a call from Yasmin (Hannah Hoad), a lap dancer who wants to unload a stash of cocaine. Justin jumps on the opportunity to prove himself. He enlists the help of Yardi (Du’aine A. Samuels) who has a somewhat colourful past. He was a member of local crew, the Head Hunters and a dealer of some repute. Somehow he managed walk away from a charge while Georgie Boy went down for an eight stretch. Yardi was promptly kneecapped for his perceived disloyalty. So you might think a drugs deal would be the last thing Yardi needs, but nevertheless puts the feelers out. Local mobster Big Ron (George McCluskey) hears about Yardi’s involvement via bent DI Bennett (Christopher Fosh). Big Ron is anxious to recover his produce and sends Head Hunters Mikey and Ray off to have a chat with Yardi.
Whilst it’s easy to pick holes there is something very dynamic about the plotting of White Powder; which moves along at pace with some clever twists along the way. The promise of wealth and status is laid bare as only balls of steel can win the day. The notion of risk and reward is apparently justified, never mind how much misery it might cause.
White Powder is ultimately let down by some wayward acting and characters who come across as hopelessly naïve in a brutal business. However, the characters do their job and drive the plot to a dramatic conclusion.
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