Matt Whitlock (Denzel Washington) is the chief of police of a small town in the Florida Keys. He is having an affair with his old school sweetheart, who is now married to another man. When she and her husband are murdered, Whitlock finds himself having to cover his tracks to avoid becoming the main suspect, at the same time as trying to figure out what happened to them. Of course, things are not as they seem.

It’s a one-trick plot, but it’s very well executed. The script is tight, and the pace is fast. Denzel Washington gives a terrific performance as a man under unbearable pressure, and the supporting cast breath enough quirky life into their characters to give the film interest beyond the main storyline, and to add a touch of humour to the situation. (John Billingsley, probably best known as Dr. Phlox from Star Trek: Enterprise, is particularly amusing as the laid-back, slightly shifty medical examiner.) It’s a well-balanced and very entertaining movie.