In the Electric Mist (2009)

A detective in post-Katrina New Orleans has a series of surreal encounters with a troop of ghostly Confederate soldiers while investigating serial killings of local prostitutes, a 1965 lynching, and corrupt local businessmen.

Here’s a late 00’s psychological mystery thriller that seems to have become a somewhat forgotten and hidden gem. Written by Jerzy and Mary Olson-Kromolowski, directed by Bertrand Tavernier and based on the novel by James Lee Burke with a deliberately slow-building script that’s full of tension, suspense, some nice plot twists and a great soundtrack and accompanying score by Marco Beltrami. Tommy Lee Jones is as good as ever in the lead and he’s well supported by a stellar ensemble cast which includes Peter Sarsgaard, Kelly Macdonald, Mary Steenburgen, Justina Machado, Ned Beatty, James Gammon, Pruitt Taylor Vince, John Sayles and musicians Levon Helm and Buddy Guy. I’ve not read the book, but I’ve been told that this is a very good adaptation and it’s one I feel is massively underrated and underappreciated which has always amazed me considering the talent involved here.

Watch on Prime/Plex/PlutoTv (US only) or

Hoopla (US only)

Rewatch