In Stone Cold, it’s nighttime and the body of a young man is found on the shore line of the quiet town of Paradise, Massachusetts. After police chief, Jesse Stone is called to the crime scene to take a look, it is determined this is a murder case, with the man having been killed around two hours before his body was discovered.
The next morning, while Jesse is in his office, sifting through photos of the crime scene, he is interrupted by the Pennington family. Mrs. Pennington claims her daughter, Candace, was raped the night before, and she wants Jesse to do something about it.
Putting one of his officers on the rape case, Jesse turns his attention back to the murder investigation. The results of the autopsy suggest two perpetrators could have been responsible for the man’s death, leading Jesse to believe he could be looking for multiple killers instead of one.
The next day, another body is discovered in town, with a third following shortly after. In order to stop what is becoming a murder spree, Jesse needs to determine whether there is a link between the victims, or whether these killings are random.
Directed by Robert Harmon, and based on Robert B. Parker’s 2003 book of the same name, Stone Cold is a mystery-drama television movie. The film stars Tom Selleck, Viola Davis, Kohl Sudduth, Mimi Rogers, Jane Adams, and Reg Rogers, and tells the story of Jesse Stone’s attempts to crack a perplexing murder case.
Selleck takes on the lead role of Jesse for this film, in what would become the first instalment in a series of Jesse Stone pictures. Selleck brings a calming, yet determined presence to the part, and it’s not surprising that he would return in further instalments.
In fact, one of the strengths of Stone Cold is just how good Selleck is in this movie. The film is a well-constructed detective picture, with multiple plus points that elevate it above most television movies, but Selleck is the key piece.
Jesse is a divorced, functioning alcoholic, with a no-nonsense attitude. He may have his own demons to deal with, but he doesn’t let these impact his work, and Selleck not only understands this, but he nails the part too.
Stone Cold could work without Selleck, but it thrives because of him. The way he plays the part of Jesse perfectly matches the somewhat somber tone of the film, suggesting the actor reached a mutual understanding with director Robert Harmon about how to deliver this picture and his character.
Joining Selleck on screen is a solid cast of supporting actors, including most notably Viola Davis. Davis only has a small part to play in the film as officer Molly Crane, but she is superb in the slender screen time she is given.
Stone Cold made its debut three years before Davis was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for the film, Doubt (2008), and eleven years before she won Best Supporting Actress for Fences (2016). However, all the way back here in Stone Cold it’s clear Davis is destined to be a star, and the movie benefits from having her amongst the cast.
The rest of the cast pull their weight too, and everyone delivers believable performances. With this being a TV movie, some of the cast members are lesser-known names, but they all fit in nicely and help to establish the small town setting of the picture.
Outside of the cast, Stone Cold benefits from a sturdy script, which breaks away from the usual trappings of a murder-mystery drama. The film makes it very clear, very quickly who the killers are, in order to introduce an element of cat and mouse into the story, and this keeps things feeling fresh.
The audience can see the glee the killers take from committing their crimes but are made to wait patiently for Jesse to catch them. The villains – played by Jane Adams and Reg Rogers – camp it up a little, but this adds to the suspense and tension, as well as the overall frustration of seeing them get away with their crimes for so long.
To add to this, Stone Cold has a subplot about a rape case, which essentially has nothing to do with the murder investigation. However, its inclusion is important for fleshing out Jesse’s character and his position as a good cop, and leads to some heartfelt scenes between Jesse and the victim, Candace Pennington.
Add in a great score by musician, Jeff Beal, which helps to convey the drama in the movie, and Stone Cold has a lot going for it. If this film existed as a one-off tale it would be a fine picture, but it’s obvious this is destined to be the beginning of something more, as the world feels fully formed by the time the credits roll.
Stone Cold is a gem of a movie, ideal for those who adore well-made detective stories. It is a film built on a terrific performance from Selleck, but one which is infused with the perfect balance of mood and atmosphere.
It’s the sort of picture that can be watched during a lazy afternoon, but also works very well as laid back late-night entertainment. Stone Cold is inviting, intoxicating stuff, with real grit.
Should you wish to check out Stone Cold, the film is widely available on digital and DVD via all good entertainment retailers, including Amazon US.
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