Director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire thoroughly succeeds at creating a bleak atmosphere of despair in “Asphalt City,” a dark, challenging project that is going to be a tough watch for many viewers. Based on the 2008 novel “Black Flies” by Shannon Burke, the film delves into the gritty reality of New York City as seen and experienced through the eyes of paramedics navigating the chaos and violence that beats beneath the urban jungles of America.
The film tells the story of a young paramedic named Ollie Cross (Tye Sheridan) who, in preparation for medical school, is assigned to the night shift with seasoned partner Gene Rutkovsky (Sean Penn). Every 911 call reveals a city in crisis as the men put their lives in danger to help others, but the nightly horrors send Ollie down a nightmarish rabbit hole that takes a serious toll on his mental health.
The film offers a visceral and unflinching look at the harsh realities of emergency medicine, and the opening minutes plunge viewers into the heart of the action. Riding along in the ambulance with these men, Sauvaire creates a palpable and dramatic realism that sets the tone for the rest of the film. It’s not pleasant, but it’s undeniably gripping.
The themes at play are complex, especially the exploration of moral and ethical ambiguity that plagues the characters. The story takes a dark turn as it unfolds, giving an unflinching look at the psychological toll of witnessing trauma and death that’s all in an evening’s work for these men. Mental health breakdowns ensue, leading to a violent change in Ollie’s personality and a descent into darkness. Things get even worse when the men start to act on their belief that they’re saviors who are playing God on the streets of NYC.
A word of warning to the squeamish: the medical scenes offer a highly realistic and extremely gruesome portrayal of emergency medical procedures. They are vivid and grisly, and those who can’t handle blood and gore will have a hard time with this film. Medical enthusiasts, however, will appreciate the attention to detail and authenticity.
Despite boasting strong performances and a gripping narrative, “Asphalt City” fizzles with a corny ending that falls victim to clichéd dark drama tropes. I really loved the majority of the film, though, and it’s so bleak that I felt the need to wash off the layer of darkness and despair that I could feel clinging to me long after the credits rolled.
By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
