#REVIEW: “THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS”

Review by Mr. Will Wong

After premiering last year at Sundance to much acclaim, we now get a chance to witness this compelling look at standards of masculinity and what happens when people fall out of love, while still trying to keep their family intact.

Directed, written and produced by Robert Machoian, THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS centers on David (Clayne Crawford) who in a last ditch attempt to save his marriage and family, agrees to an open-relationship with wife Nikki (Sepideh Moafi).  She gets into a new relationship with Derek (Chris Coy), and David doesn’t see others. The disruption in their family life proves challenging, especially for David and his children.  As Nikki and Derek‘s relationship progresses, David is forced to confront the reality that he might have to move on, but he doesn’t do this without a fight to keep everything he has worked so hard for – his home, his kids and his wife.

THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS is gripping and Crawford delivers a spellbinding performance that is raw and compassionate. Machoian has his lead characters making choices which are aware and level-headed, but as the story moves along, we see just how difficult it is applying the ideal versus what is a very complicated reality.  The Film reaches a boiling point after a long simmer, proving that sometimes we don’t know what we had till it’s gone, and this is cathartic.

Elevation Pictures release THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS digitally and on-demand Friday, May 14, 2021.