Black and Blue

Right now you can watch Black and Blue in the US on Netflix and Starz Apple TV Channel — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 982 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Naomie Harris anchors it, but the writing does the real work. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Black and Blue earns its spot. The plotting gives Black and Blue its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Rookie cop Alicia West, an Army veteran, inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage. Naomie Harris and Tyrese Gibson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2019. The plot mechanics of Black and Blue never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Black and Blue. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Naomie Harris anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.