The Channel (2023) | Film Review

The Channel hits the ground running with a group of former Marines from the Irish Channel after their hit on a New Orleans bank goes south. They ultimately end up in a firing match with the local police and S.W.A.T., resulting in 6 law enforcement casualties. While on the run from a nationwide FBI manhunt, Clayne Crawford’s Jamie and his co-thieving lead, Mic (Max Martini), must balance the gangster and blue-line wars they find themselves in the crosshairs of. 

Crawford has played plenty of “rough around the edges” characters, most notably his role as Martin Riggs in TV’s Lethal Weapon where his gruff, morally flexible cop is put up alongside the no-nonsense safe cop. Yet, in The Channel, Crawford is the lesser of two evils. Instead, Martini’s Mic is his unhinged partner, exuding the most ballsy, brutal, and arrogant character I have seen in an indie film recently.

Make no mistake, these two are very different characters, both of whom are willing to do what it takes. But at the end of the day, they are united by loyalty in which they operate from with crystal clear clarity. Jamie’s reasons for criminal activity are rooted in a personal endeavor, elevated by an ever-charming Clayne Crawford and a sweet mullet. A comeback many of us have been waiting for, Crawford’s recent films continue to elevate him back into the entertainment scene. 

This duo’s dynamic is so sharp and natural, but the savageness of Mic is not to be overlooked. It takes a grim performance to command an entire film through and through, to make an audience scared of who he is and what he could do next. Nothing is off limits for him; his unpredictability makes every minute of the day with Jamie a heavier risk. For every ounce of charm in Crawford, it is equaled in the compelling nature of Martini.

With an independent film, one of the first questions – and hesitations for some – is the production quality. To no fault of their own, action sequences can be challenging to get right. Special effects are costly and place limitations on the production, not to mention the cost of experienced actors and film crew. The simplest way to put it is The Channel‘s William Kaufman got it right.

If you didn’t know this is an indie film, you wouldn’t know that it’s an indie film, nor would you care. Every action sequence is so tightly choreographed and riddled with military dialogue, precise movements, and organization. It’s so easy to buy into the tension and the backstory when it’s displayed in such a way that makes it feel real and tangible to the audience.

Through blood, violence, and probably more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition per person, The Channel takes the traditional heist formula to another level: fully automatic guns, sulfuric acid, heart-pounding action sequences that last 5-10 minutes, and a blend of family drama. Although the story endures a few clichés from within its primary genre, there’s never a moment of boredom nor eye-rolling. This mission is a non-stop, exhilarating thrill ride.

Listen to our full review of The Channel on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: