Art sadly imitates life as the long-awaited Haitian action-comedy Kidnapping Inc. finally hits the big screen four years after tragic events during filming. Director/co-writer Bruno Mourral satirizes the unceasing violence, poverty, and corruption that plagues the country. An opening card explains how Haiti came to its current predicament with a primer on pervasive social, economic, and racial inequities. Kidnapping hostages for ransom is a widespread problem. The film gets big laughs by mocking a terrifying and serious issue while illustrating the difficulties ordinary citizens face to survive.
Bumbling Gangsters
- Some laugh-out-loud slapstick antics throughout, bolstered by strong performances.
- An effective satire of the corruption and politics in Haiti, shining a light on grim realities.
- The narrative is overstuffed, with one particular subplot not working.
Mourral previously introduced the bumbling and hapless gangsters, Doc (Jasmuel Andri) and Zoe (Rolapthon Mercure), in the 2017 film Kafou. The story picks up that same year with the goofy duo in a field outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The car trunk won’t close despite their best efforts. They’ve got a restrained and hooded man squirming in the boot. Zoe updates Doc about his problematic love life and a bizarre recurring nightmare. He then punches the annoying victim to silence him during his story, but gets far worse than his desired response.
They stare in disbelief at the dead corpse when the phone rings. The “Chief” wants to know when they’ll be dropping off the hostage. He’s demanded $300,000 for the return of a very important man. It turns out the body belongs to the son of Benjamin Perralt (Ashley Laraque), a powerful senator and currently the leading candidate for Haiti’s presidency during the tumultuous elections.
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Meanwhile, Audrey (Anabel Lopez), Perralt’s daughter-in-law, and her secret lover, the duplicitous Eddy (Marcus Boereau), race to the bank for the money. Doc and Zoe return to town in utter disbelief over their predicament. How are they going to get out of this mess? Fate intervenes when the pregnant Laura (Gessica Geneus) and her timid husband Patrick (Patrick Joseph) are getting in their car. Doc and Zoe just happen to be driving by and realize that Patrick looks exactly like Perralt’s deceased son.
‘Kidnapping Inc.’ Is a Comedy About a Tragedy
Kidnapping Inc. will have you laughing out loud with its slapstick antics. Andri and Mercure have great chemistry as they dig a bigger hole with each moronic development. Mourral wants to show that they’re not ruthless killers but products of a system that spawns desperate acts. Their various chases through the labyrinthine slums of Port-au-Prince give the audience an unvarnished look at crippling third world destitution. The vast majority of Haitians live in dire need of adequate shelter, clean water, and food. Imagine suffering through these hardships while facing unceasing terror from gangs and law enforcement.
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Whether it stems from the plot’s direction, characters’ actions, or another aspect, a good laugh can be a welcome addition to serious circumstances.
Mourral excoriates Haiti’s crooked government for being equally complicit in the morass of failures. The “Chief” turns out to be Captain Fritz Bama (Manfred Marcelin), the head policeman who’s just as bad as the criminals running the streets. He gleefully tortures those who refuse his protection racket while masquerading as a crusader for justice. There’s a pathetic irony to Perralt asking Fritz for help. Where do decent people go when those in charge can’t be trusted and also exploit the vulnerable?
Kidnapping Inc. also dives deep into Haiti’s ugly racial dynamics. The wealthy elites are often light-skinned and biracial. Black Haitians overwhelmingly populate the lower class. They’re treated like garbage, are indignant and frustrated, but again have no viable recourse outside of violence against those in power. Perralt, Audrey, and others of their ilk harbor money and power. It’s no surprise that they’re targeted for ransom. Kidnapping is a flourishing industry.
It’s difficult to watch Kidnapping Inc. without addressing Haiti’s awful current state of affairs. Warring gangs have decimated law enforcement and taken control of the country. Murder, rape, and looting run rampant as chaos exacerbates an already awful situation. Mourral uses the election narrative to express the universal outrage of a people begging for change. Several of the film’s crew members were kidnapped and others murdered. He praises them in the credits, but everything has only gotten worse.
Finding Humor in an Overstuffed & Grim Narrative
We shouldn’t feel guilty for laughing at the dark comedy aspects of the film. Humor is the best medicine when it’s handled correctly. Kidnapping Inc. will have you glued to the screen as the story develops and incorporates Haiti’s many woes. Mourral does go overboard by piling on themes when the bucket is already full.
Laura and Patrick are leaving for Miami, so their baby can be born in America. They have no faith in local hospitals, which are short on medical supplies and only cater to those who can afford expensive treatment. This subplot runs concurrently with the kidnapping and election narratives. There’s admittedly too much going as the frenzy builds to a wacky and unrealistic climax, but you can’t fault Mourral for trying to address substantial problems. Kidnapping Inc. entertains with a heavy heart.
Save the Children and the Red Cross are established and credible non-profit organizations in Haiti. Donations save lives.
Kidnapping Inc. has Creole dialogue with English subtitles. It is a production of Canal+, TV5MONDE, and Promenade Films, et al. Kidnapping Inc. will be released theatrically on February 7th from Dark Star Pictures.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
