A film reviewer is urging Netflix subscribers to watch what he calls 'one of the best crime drama thrillers ever made'. Luke Eccleston, who posts on TikTok as Eccy Reviews, shared his thoughts on Clint Eastwood's Mystic River in a recent video.
Why watch Mystic River?
Eccleston said: 'I have just gone and found you the perfect film to watch tonight and it's on Netflix.' He added: 'If you're a fan of crime drama thrillers, this film is one of the biggest ones out there. But if you're someone who hasn't seen this film, you are massively missing out.'
The film follows three childhood friends—played by Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon—whose lives are torn apart by tragedy. The story centres on the murder of Sean Penn's character's teenage daughter, forcing the three men to reunite years later as Kevin Bacon's detective investigates the crime.
Critical acclaim and comparisons
Released in 2003, Mystic River earned widespread praise. Sean Penn won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and Tim Robbins won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. On IMDb, fans have compared it to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, noting both are bleak, adult crime dramas where a present-day investigation uncovers buried trauma and exposes rot beneath an ordinary community.
One reviewer wrote: 'This movie is a kick in the gut. Rarely is such a brilliant cast assembled, and even when it happens, rarely do they act like this.' Another said: 'Though the film becomes a bit uneven towards the end, this tough, brutal and uncompromising; but still, a masterpiece, and the best work Eastwood has done in years.'
