I Came By

Sometimes, you watch a movie, and the opening scenes don't show much promise but you decide to stick with it and later find it is actually good stuff. That was my experience watching the movie I Came By. It's compelling and meaningful and will probably leave you slightly downhearted at how closely it mirrors real life. It glaringly highlights society's class divides; the challenges in providing justice to the poor, the marginalized, and the unprotected as well as how the rich, powerful, and highly connected get away with almost anything.

About This Movie

I Came By is a 2022 crime thriller written by Babak Anvari and Namsi Khan; produced by Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari and directed by Babak Anvari. The talented cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Percelle Ascot, George MacKay, Kelly Macdonald, Verada Sethu, Antonio Aakeel, and Franc Ashman among others.

Synopsis

Toby is angry, anti-government, and anti-establishment. He and his best friend Jay are graffiti artists who break into the homes of the rich and spray paint graffiti on their walls just to make a point. They target the home of Sir Hector Blake, a retired judge after Jay goes undercover as a workman to scan his security code. Toby breaks in intending to leave a graffiti message but hears a sound coming from the basement. He finds a bloodied, beaten man imprisoned in a hidden room but has to run when Hector returns home. He tries to convince Jay to follow him back so they free the man but Jay is distracted. His girlfriend is pregnant and he wants out to focus. Toby anonymously tips the police but they find nothing. Toby and his mum don't get along and after another quarrel, she throws him out. Toby goes back to Hector's house intending to free the man but slips and falls trying to attack Hector. Hector murders him and disposes of the body. When Toby does not return home, his mum informs the police and quizzes Jay. She begins watching Hector after finding his letter among Toby's things. She decides to break in but Hector kills her as well. The onus is now on Jay to expose Hector and provide the evidence the police need to arrest him.

Social Relevance

This movie highlights several social issues including Single Parenthood, Family, Love and Relationships, Policing, Classism, Immigration, Murder and Crime, Criminal Justice, Social Media, and Political Activism among others

Key Takeaways

This movie offers several learning points and key takeaways. Some of them include the following:

• The glaring disparities between rich and poor, connected and disenfranchised, policed and under-policed as well as the many ways highly placed or connected people get away with subverting the legal process
• The demands of parenting young adults and balancing love and care with guiding them into starting their own lives
• Insiders are more likely to subvert and break the law because they know the grey areas, loopholes, and technicalities
• The rich, connected, and highly placed are more likely to hide their mental illnesses to keep up appearances rather than seek professional help
• Having a child without being emotionally and financially ready is always a tough curve

Low and High Points

This movie had several emotional scenes, high points, and low points. A major low point was how Blake got away with kidnapping and murder for so long. A major high point was when Jay overcame his fear and went after Blake providing the police with the evidence they needed to bring him to book.

Conclusion

I Came By is a deep and stirring treatise on modern society. It is not for those seeking an action, adventure, or thrilling movie experience. This movie is designed to make you think and ponder. It highlights the bureaucracy and roadblocks in the system that though designed to work, do not protect the vulnerable and helpless. It also reminds us how the worst of the worst can hide behind hypocrisy, titles, and connections to commit atrocities right under the noses of law enforcement.

Have you watched this movie? What are your thoughts?