One of the classic tropes of film noir is the seemingly decent but hapless guy who allows himself to be done in by the femme fatale. In “Toxic Impulses,” writer/director Kyle Schadt, who also edited the film, sets up shaggy haired, gruffly handsome Mosley (Benedikt Sebastian) from the opening scene as just that guy. A former cop forced to resign after a shooting incident, Mosley is stuck in a rut and an easy target for trouble in the form of Zemira (Olivia Buckle) who supports her abusive partner-in-crime Boyd (Robert Ackerman Moss) and her drug habit by robbing banks with simple notes. Mosley, who narrates the tale, is intrigued and attracted for all the usual reasons despite billboard-size red flags from the moment Zemira attempts to enlist his aid. Her story about being blackmailed is suspect from the start but Mosley of course ignores this along with warnings from his caring neighbor and friend Elizabeth (Helene Udy).
The Los Angeles-set noir takes us along as Mosley tracks Semira’s mysterious claims. He finds a seemingly sincere ex-husband, James (Jay Habre), but turns up more questions than answers. When Zemira reappears she invites Mosley to lunch and casually tells him to pick her up at “the bank." The unsuspecting Mosley is soon tailed by an undercover cop and, noticing the wads of bills in Zemira’s bag, finally begins to get the picture that he’s being set up. But even after such a close call, Mosley continues to sink deeper into trouble. We know it will not end well.
Sebastian and Buckle deliver solid performances despite characters who are not particularly well defined beyond desperate loser (her) and dupe (him), both of whom are in way over their heads. The crime story unfolds with more than a few inconsistencies and contrivances, likely owing to time and budget. Despite these obstacles, Schadt shows a clear flair for the noir genre with “Toxic Impulses.”
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