By Robert Yaniz Jr.

A trip down memory lane spirals into nightmarish territory in Bullitt County.

Bullitt County starts like so many other films before it. A group of friends reunites to celebrate one’s impending nuptials and set off on a quest to recapture the good ol’ days one more time. Et cetera, et cetera. However, even from the earliest moments of writer/director David McCracken’s solo debut (he previously co-wrote and co-wrote the 2013 thriller Daylight), there is a hint of something more sinister lurking just beneath the surface.

Without delving into specifics, let’s just say that Gordie (Mike C. Nelson), Robin (Jenni Melear), Keaton (McCracken) and Wayne (Napoleon Ryan) don’t exactly get what they bargain for when they set off to revisit their favorite distilleries on Kentucky’s Bluegrass Bourbon Trail in the fall of 1977. Rest assured that the opening minutes of Bullitt County are designed to lull you into a false sense of security, and we wouldn’t dare spoil the many surprises that the film meticulously reveals over the course of its tight 98-minute runtime.

Bullitt County‘s mishmash of tones and genres ultimately works to its benefit, creating an unpredictability that keeps viewers guessing right up until its heart-stopping climax. However, in order to propel the plot where it needs to go, the character work does suffer a bit in execution. Some of the decisions characters make — as well as their lives outside of this specific event — feel sorely underdeveloped and almost incongruous with what we’re supposed to know about them. Thankfully, viewers who are able to look past this deficiency will find a lot to enjoy.

For starters, McCracken’s bold direction — coupled with Sean McDaniel’s gorgeous cinematography — truly lends the film the kind of Western neo-noir feel that befits the story being told. The isolation of the Kentucky woods and the potential horrors therein are especially highlighted late in the film, as the characters roam through the trees in broad daylight. Bullitt County is the kind of film that mutates as it goes along, from a genial buddy adventure to a psychological thrill ride that leave viewers (and many of the characters) wondering how things went so awry.

Of course, part of what makes the direction that Bullitt County takes so shocking is its own willingness to embrace the necessary logic gaps to arrive at its intended destination. Even though not all of the “plot twists” are as original as they assert they are, the performances — especially Melear and Nelson (whose off-kilter sensibility is the perfect fit) — largely ground the insane sequence of events that sees the key friendships put to such a monstrous test.

This is a keep-you-guessing thriller that was crafted with a lot of love and care, and even though the final product certainly has its flaws, Bullitt County clearly has a lot on its mind and exudes McCracken’s ambition and the influence of the Coen Bros., Stanley Kubrick and many other masters. From start to finish, the film has a clear vision in place. It might not come together as well as it could have, but McCracken and his team have still created a slick little flick with Bullitt County.

Bullitt County stars Mike C. Nelson, Jenni Melear, David McCracken, Napoleon Ryan, Dorothy Lyman and Richard Riehle and is directed by McCracken. The film is now playing in select theaters. Find a full list of theaters here.