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“Handshake” is the second feature length film by Robert Shupe, who is a writer, director and actor of the film. The thriller starts with Devin (Shupe) being taken into the woods. He lost the drugs he was supposed to sell and his superiors are not happy. But Devin manages to get away, quite literally, by swimming down the river. He meets Bill (Joe Basso) along the way.
As Bill is fly fishing, he is not so lucky because Devin is stomping and splashing in the water and ruining the perfectly good river spot. However, the old man agrees to help the desperate young man. He gives him dry clothes along with a ride into town. At the diner, where they were having a thank you meal, Devin says he owes a few thousand dollars because of his blunder. Bill then informs him that he, too is in serious trouble, money wise. He further suggests a way to solve all the issues: Bill will pay that relative stranger, Devin, to kill him. This way, Bill’s family collects the money from his life insurance policy and Devin gets the cash to get out of his issues. But, of course, when it comes to murder, or in this case, assisted murder, nothing is simple or easy.
Handshake begins awkwardly. For someone who’s one bullet to the head away from being dead, Devin seems rather flippant. Mind you, the gun with the bullet is in the possession of one of the people accompanying him. Devin’s sarcasm and retorts are funny, but they do not set up the stakes or the guide’s genuine sentiments towards the matter very well. However, as soon as Bill walks in, and Devin starts to consider the importance of what is being asked of him, things pick up quite a bit from the character perspective.
In his storytelling, Shupe tosses in a number of well-crafted and out-of-nowhere turns. Sadly, nearly all of them would ruin various aspects. So, know that it goes from Hitchcockian to ethical drama with ease. The conclusion takes a different broad stroke as well, one that is equally as needed and has little room for error.
Shupe manages to understand Devin’s sharp and aggressive exterior as well as his fragile interior. Thus, the way he tells a server that he was thinking of getting her number even though he has a girlfriend comes across as rather obnoxious. But at the same time, one understands that this is more of a coping mechanism than anything else. Basso is fantastic. In a scene involving an automobile with a knife in it, the sheer willpower and bestial rage he exemplifies gives a glimpse of just how badly he wants to die. Devin’s partner Erica is played by Mabel Maultsby. She performs by portraying someone who sincerely sells him her loyalty and love.
Handshake is a surprising story. It is shocking and executed very well. While the first scene falls a bit flat, much of the 112 minutes of runtime is clever and entertaining. The cast exceptionably Shupe and Basso are strong as always and seem to know everything about the material. The conclusion of the film is the most revealing and definitely accomplishes the goal.
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