If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if life handed you a hitman gig instead of lemons, LaRoy, Texas answers that question in a delightfully dark and twisted way. This neo-noir comedy thriller by Shane Atkinson presents an oddball mix of despair, absurdity, and crime, wrapped in a package that will leave you chuckling—albeit nervously.
Set in the forgotten and dusty streets of small-town Texas, the film stars John Magaro as Ray, a down-on-his-luck hardware store owner who’s at the end of his rope—both metaphorically and literally. After discovering his wife’s affair, Ray contemplates suicide. But before he can pull the trigger, he’s mistaken for a low-rent hitman and handed a name, a mission, and a wad of cash. And just like that, the film shifts gears from despair to a Coen Brothers-style black comedy, sending Ray spiraling down a rabbit hole of criminal misadventures.
Plot Breakdown: A Comedy of Errors (and Homicides)
The film opens with Ray (John Magaro) driving off into the Texas wilderness to end his misery after discovering his wife’s infidelity. But, as luck would have it—or bad luck—he’s mistaken for a hired gun. From here, what starts as a simple case of mistaken identity turns into a full-blown noirish escapade, complete with dead bodies, double-crosses, and a missing briefcase stuffed with cash.
Ray’s sidekick in this mess is Skip, played by Steve Zahn, a washed-up private investigator who adds an eccentric edge to the film. Together, they bumble their way through a dangerous conspiracy. Their journey involves uncovering local secrets, facing real hitmen (most notably Harry, played chillingly by Dylan Baker), and trying to outsmart everyone in a town where no one, it seems, has a fully functioning moral compass.
Character Performances: A Cast Full of Colorful Misfits
What truly makes LaRoy, Texas memorable is the cast. John Magaro shines as the ever-suffering Ray, his everyman demeanor perfectly capturing the absurdity of his predicament. Ray is the kind of hapless character that audiences root for, even when he’s doing questionable things like accepting a hitman job by accident. His performance strikes a balance between comedic ineptitude and heartfelt despair, making him a compelling center for the story.
Steve Zahn’s portrayal of Skip, the overconfident yet inept detective, adds another layer of comedic charm to the film. Zahn has always excelled at playing quirky characters, and here, his sense of timing and delivery elevate the comedic moments. Dylan Baker’s portrayal of Harry, the actual hitman who enters the scene with a mild-mannered yet menacing aura, deserves special mention. With his unsettling calm and cold precision, Baker embodies the Coen-esque hitman archetype to a T.
Megan Stevenson, who plays Ray’s disillusioned wife Stacey-Lynn, brings a darkly funny yet tragic element to the film. She’s relentless in her loathing of Ray but simultaneously clueless about the mess she has created in his life, perfectly embodying the film’s recurring theme of people caught in their self-made chaos.
A Comedy of (Mediocre) Criminals
Much of the charm of LaRoy, Texas lies in its supporting characters. The film is full of locals who seem to be involved in some scheme or another, all connected by greed and desperation. As each layer of criminality is peeled back, it becomes clear that these people are far from criminal masterminds. Instead, they’re small-town misfits chasing easy money, and their greed leads to predictable but amusing blunders.
The police, for example, are more interested in having a good time than doing any real law enforcement, showing up primarily to mess with the townsfolk. The film deftly portrays how everyone in LaRoy is screwing over someone else, even as they attempt to build or rebuild relationships in the most dysfunctional ways imaginable.
Visual Flair: A Gritty, Sun-Bleached Noir
Visually, LaRoy, Texas carries all the hallmarks of the neo-noir genre, but with a sun-drenched twist. The small, dilapidated town of LaRoy is full of crumbling buildings and empty streets, emphasizing the theme of decay—both personal and communal. Atkinson’s direction paints the town as a forgotten place where dreams go to die, but where there’s still enough life left to cause a whole lot of trouble.
The cinematography mirrors the film’s tone perfectly, with scenes alternating between wide, lonely landscapes and claustrophobic interiors where tension bubbles just below the surface. It’s a style that evokes comparisons to the Coen Brothers’ best work—think Fargo meets No Country for Old Men with a dash of slapstick.
Themes and Satire: More Than Just a Dark Comedy?
Underneath all the laughs and shootouts, LaRoy, Texas touches on deeper themes. The film explores failure, betrayal, and the all-too-human desire for a second chance—even if that chance involves criminal behavior. Ray’s journey is not just about navigating a criminal underworld; it’s about his quest for redemption and his desperate attempts to hold onto some semblance of dignity in a world that’s constantly kicking him down.
But make no mistake: this is no morality tale. The film embraces the absurdity of human behavior, suggesting that we’re all just a few bad decisions away from getting tangled up in something we don’t understand. The satire is biting but never cynical, finding humor in the characters’ foibles without ever losing sight of their humanity.
Where It Falters: Too Many Twists, Not Enough Payoff
For all its strengths, LaRoy, Texas does have its weaknesses. The film’s third act stumbles a bit as the plot twists pile up. There are perhaps one too many betrayals and reversals of fortune, leaving the audience dizzy and, at times, frustrated. By the time the credits roll, the film hasn’t built to the kind of gut-punch ending that it seemed to promise.
That said, the journey is still a blast, and the film’s lighter tone keeps the audience engaged even when the plot loses its focus. If anything, LaRoy, Texas could have benefited from trimming a few of its minor subplots and letting its core characters—particularly Ray and Skip—shine even more.
Final Verdict: A Must-Watch for Fans of Dark, Quirky Crime Dramas
LaRoy, Texas may not be a perfect film, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable one. Director Shane Atkinson has crafted a darkly funny, twisty tale full of memorable characters and laugh-out-loud moments. If you’re a fan of films like Fargo or Burn After Reading, you’ll find a lot to love here. The Coen Brothers’ influence is palpable, but Atkinson’s unique voice still manages to come through, offering a fresh take on the neo-noir crime comedy genre.
With its sharp dialogue, eccentric characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing (even when it occasionally falters), LaRoy, Texas is well worth the watch. It’s a small-town tale of big-time mistakes—funny, tragic, and full of heart. Just don’t expect things to wrap up neatly; like life, LaRoy, Texas leaves a few loose ends dangling.
