The Stakeout



Two police officers – one a newly minted detective looking to do good and the other an old pro on the eve of retirement – are sent to an abandoned building near the docks to do some surveillance on a group of suspected jewel thieves and try to catch them in the act. But as the evening wears on and the two men with opposing personalities get to know each other better, one of them begins to suspect that the two of them are not there for the same reasons.


Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? When will the takeout arrive?

It’s February again, which means it’s once again time for “Shorts Month.” First up we have this little American Noir-esque outing from 2020. I like Noir films and I like (most) police dramas, so this one was an easy pick. And since I can rarely find any information on any of these short films to put here like I usually do, let’s just dive right in…



As with most film shorts it probably doesn’t feature anyone you’re at all familiar with, though writer/director/actor Andy Knode apparently did have bit parts in both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers (as separate characters). So, good for him I guess. But if you don’t recognize him don’t feel too bad, because even if he hadn’t been playing bit parts, with Chris Evans on screen I doubt anyone would have been paying all that much attention to him anyway. Luckily for him though, this is his short, so he gets to be front and center, and I must say he does a very good job with what he’s given…Or is it gave himself? Whatever. Point is, he and co-star Gary Kiser play their Noir cop roles perfectly as the eager young buck and the old pro, respectively. And while the roles themselves might feel a little over used (new cop/old cop dysfunction *sigh*), they both play them earnestly enough so that they don’t end up feeling too cliche. Knode’s character even gets the benefit of some backstory that helps flesh out his part and makes him feel like more than a mere one-dimensional placeholder, a true rarity in such similar short films.


Hey wait, he got a backstory? Why didn’t I get a backstory?

As for the story, it’s simple, but effective. You’ve got two people with slightly conflicting personalities, and as one of them starts making questionable comments and decisions/actions, the other one becomes suspicious of them and their motives. But is something truly amiss with the one guy, or is it just all in the other guy’s head? The film kind of leaves the answer to that up in the air. But it lays the story out well enough that you can easily follow both possibilities if you were inclined to do so, while also leaving just enough puzzling aspects unanswered to keep you second guessing yourself.


One day I’m gonna be a great investigator…assuming I can stay up long enough to do my job.

The film’s greatest strength, however, is easily its visual style. The movie is going for a Noir/Neo-noir-esque style, and I gotta admit, it hits that vibe pretty well. Everything from the coloring, to the shadows, to the angles, to the look, are all pretty spot-on. Or at least they are up until the end, because at that point morning comes, the sun comes out and the shadows go away, things don’t look nearly as bleak, and thus “Noir-time” ends. It’s a nice and effective atmosphere change, and I think the visuals illustrate that really well.



I’m sure The Stakeout isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Noir in any way, then it’s a solid, quick watch. The premise and characters may not be 100% unique, but the story still makes for a nice psychological thriller. It looks good, it’s nicely acted, and the plot is well thought out. As far as shorts go, you could do a lot worse.

The Stakeout is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The Stakeout is also available for purchase on Amazon as well.

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