In the Electric Mist [Blu-ray]

Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 03/03/2009

Based on the book series by James Lee Burke, In the Electric Mist tackles murder, mobsters, Hollywood drama… and apparitions of long-dead confederate soldiers. The film begins with Detective Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones) investigating the murder of a young woman in his small parish town while dealing with the influx of irresponsible Hollywood star Elrod Sykes (Peter Sarsgaard). While filming a civil war epic, Elrod discovers the remains of a man killed decades earlier, a crime Dave himself witnessed but did not report. Adding to the intrigue is the appearance of ghosts from a forgotten era: confederate soldiers lead by Gen. John Bell Hood. Offering advice and direction to Dave, the specter of Hood may seem disjointed, but in Cajun country, full of real and imagined ghosts, it’s not hard to imagine. As more murders occur and secrets from the past are brought to light, will Dave succeed in stopping a vicious killer? Jones delivers a believable portrayal of a tortured, redemptive officer who must right the wrongs of the past and the present. Adding to the authenticity and beauty of this Cajun tale, five-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy appears and performs in the film. One final mystery still remains: will we see more of Dave Robicheaux, or will more adaptations be confined to the reader’s imagination? -- Lesley Puhrmann

Stills from In the Electric Mist (Click for larger image)