First Shift

Other than an indie German film Hanau in 2022, infamous director Uwe Boll (Amoklauf, Rampage) has been largely off the radar since taking a retirement from filmmaking after 2016’s Rampage: President Down. First Shift, a police procedural that’s at times comedic (discussions about what a cream pie is!) and serious (kids getting murdered!), represents Uwe’s full-throated step back into the film industry with sharp cinematography and a plot that keeps things moving.

It’s a regular day on the force for the blunt, burnt-out Deo (Gino Anthony Pesi) until he gets assigned Angela (Kristen Renton), a fresh-faced social media addict, as his partner. Working the titular first shift of the day, the pair find they have less differences than they might think as they work on cases ranging from animal welfare to cold-blooded murder.

Shot in New York City, First Shift’s cinematography by Uwe’s regular DP Mathias Neumann (Auschwitz, Postal) is a real strength here showing off the seedier side of the city blocks and subway tracks in crisp digital photography. There are frequent long shots that show off the iconic architecture of the city and stress how Angela and Deo are just two tiny ants in a very large concrete jungle. The increased sense of scale is appreciated and really shows off the New York locales.

Writer-Director Uwe Boll cleverly mixes genres from sequence to sequence so the audience is never knows what to expect, leaving them feeling just as disoriented as Angela on her first day at work in the Bronx. Characters from one scene often meet up other unrelated character in another, reminding one of Robert Altman classics like Short Cuts and Nashville.

There’s a nice chemistry between Angela and Deo here. Kristen Renton (Come Away Home, Street Level) shows layers beneath her initially flippant naiveté that explain her behavior as the former while Gino Anthony Pesi’s (Minimal Knowledge, The Hottie & the Nottie) gruffness works great as a counterpoint. James McMenamin (In Dubious Battle, The Word) also gives a nice turn as Paul, a tortured army vet with a surprise connection to the overall narrative.

Oftentimes, First Shift feels like it could be the start of a strong TV series, yet the end of the film teases viewers with a sequel. However the further adventures of Angela and Deo end up, it will be intriguing to see how they work together differently after the hard truths that come up during their First Shift.

First Shift is now available for rental and purchase on digital formats; it’s also available on streaming for free with a Paramount Plus subscription.