Produced by Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral), and the directorial debut of his daughter Ami Canaan Mann, Texas Killing Fields is “inspired by true events.” Set in Texas City, Texas, the story follows local police detective, Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) and New York City transplant, Brian Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) investigating another in a long string of murders, this victim lying in their jurisdiction, others found in a marshy area dubbed “the Texas killing fields.” Souder is a tough, determined cop who wants results no matter the cost.

“The Texas Killing Fields” has long had a reputation among locals as a place to avoid. While investigating their case, Pam Stall (Jessica Chastain), Sounder’s ex-wife and a detective in the jurisdiction of “the Texas killing fields,” calls on the guys to help her in catching a serial killer who has a taste for young women. Though the investigation is outside their jurisdiction, Heigh can’t help but be drawn in, and when the killer starts to taunt him, the case gets personal. As the two unrelated cases heat up, the detectives put their lives on the line to track down the suspects before they kill again.

Written by Donald F. Ferrarone, the script is nothing special. In the commentary, Ferrarone discusses how he wanted the story to have a realistic quality. Unfortunately, the detectives and their work is never particularly compelling or interesting. They move from place to place; go from interrogation to interrogation. The pacing is tepid at best, which isn’t helped by the lack of any real theme.

The biggest problem here is the abundance of characters. There’s simply not enough backstory to support them all. As a result, you get the sense that the characters are just wandering in and out for no particular reason, taking focus away from the main storyline. Obviously, this leads to a couple of plotlines that are simply left dangling. That’s never good!

Despite attempts to plant Red herrings fall flat, as most viewers will spot the killer within a half hour. While Texas Killing Fields offers little to recommend it, I hope Ami Canaan Mann gets an opportunity to direct a better script. It’s clear she’s good at working with actors; Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Jessica Chastain all turn in fine performances.

Presented in the 2:40:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer is fine, but nothing special. Some softness is visible in wide shots, but digital anomalies aren’t an issue. The color palette is a subdued one, lots of blacks and browns, with splashes of bright colors. Blacks are fairly deep, and shadows look quite good.

Lossless audio comes in the form of a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track. The sound mix makes little use of the rear speakers. The exteriors are used occasionally, but this is a front heavy mix. Some of the hushed dialogue is difficult to hear.

A Spanish mono track is also included; English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available.

The following special features are included:

  • Audio Commentary Featuring Director Ami Canaan Mann and Writer Donald F. Ferrarone : The film’s director and writer cover several areas, including casting, locations, production design, and the real life inspirations behind the story and characters. There are a few brief pauses in the discussion, but for the most part, the duo offer a steady stream of information. While not a particularly entertaining track, there are some worthwhile insights shared.
  • Trailer (HD, 2 min)