The Playground

The Playground is a 2017 crime thriller that centers around a wealthy businessman named James St. Clair (Myles Cranford), who has built a playground for the children of an impoverished neighborhood in Los Angeles. However, the playground soon becomes a battleground for rival drug gangs, and St. Clair finds himself embroiled in a violent conflict that threatens to destroy everything he's built.

The film opens with St. Clair unveiling the new playground to a group of excited children and their parents. However, it quickly becomes clear that the playground is not the safe haven St. Clair had envisioned. The gangs have taken notice of the playground and are using it as a base of operations for their drug trade. They terrorize the children and parents, using violence to maintain control of the area.

St. Clair, determined to make a difference, uses his wealth and influence to try and clean up the neighborhood. He hires a group of security guards to patrol the area and begins working with the police to try and put a stop to the gangs' activities. However, his efforts are met with resistance from both the gangs and the corrupt police force, and he soon realizes that he's in over his head.

The story is told through the perspectives of several different characters, including St. Clair, the gang leaders, and the parents and children of the neighborhood. Each character has their own motivations and goals, and the film does a good job of exploring these different perspectives without feeling cluttered or disjointed.

One of the standout performances in the film comes from Merrick McCartha, who plays one of the gang leaders. He brings a quiet intensity to the role, and his scenes are some of the most memorable in the film. Shane P. Allen also delivers a solid performance as one of St. Clair's security guards, adding a much-needed sense of humor to the otherwise tense and gritty film.

The cinematography in The Playground is also worth mentioning. The film takes place almost entirely in the impoverished neighborhood, and the cinematography does an excellent job of capturing the stark contrast between the playground and its surroundings. The camera work is steady and unobtrusive, allowing the action to play out naturally without distracting the viewer from the story.

Overall, The Playground is a well-crafted crime thriller that tackles some serious themes without feeling preachy or heavy-handed. It's a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in an impoverished neighborhood, and it's sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.