Backyard

Inspired by true events, Backyard follows Mexican cop Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera) as she attempts to solve the grisly murders of several young women in the small border town of Ciudad Juárez – with the movie’s multi-character structure reflected in the ongoing emphasis on several periphery figures (including a low-paid laborer and a smug local entrepreneur). There’s little doubt that Backyard ultimately fares best at the outset, as director Carlos Carrera devotes the lion’s share of screen time to Bravo’s investigation – which essentially ensures that the film initially comes off as a fairly intriguing police procedural (with the cultural differences, eg Bravo’s superior laments the presence of women on the force because they think with their hearts rather than their heads, inevitably setting the movie apart from its American counterparts). It’s just as clear, however, that the flabby midsection slowly but surely drains the proceedings of its energy, with the increased emphasis on far-from-enthralling subplots (eg Bravo encounters bureaucratic stumbling blocks during her investigation) effectively transforming Backyard into a progressively tedious experience. There’s simply no getting around the feeling that the film is spinning its wheels in the build-up to its underwhelming third act, which is a shame, certainly, given the relatively promising nature of the opening half hour.

** out of ****