Haven is an exciting crime thriller set on the Grand Cayman isles. Directed and written by neophyte Frank E. Flowers, the movie is filled with MTV-style digital wash and quick cuts, techniques which are usually a recipe for an amateurish, clich‚d film. However, Flowers uses these to his advantage, and Haven emerges as an entertaining and stylish yet somewhat shallow film.
The film weaves together the tales of corrupt businessmen using Cayman as a tax shelter and of young island locals who live in a world of excess, drugs and racial divides. This tale of the dangers that befall money launderers may just be a "must-see" for Whartonites. The film was completely shot on the small Island of Grand Cayman and one of the movie's strongest points is its unique feel for communicating the soul of the small nation and the relationships between the locals and the tourists.
The ensemble cast, a group of mostly unknowns, provides solid acting - excepting the film's two famous actors, Bill Paxton and Orlando Bloom. Bloom's decent performance as a poor island native is undermined by his overexposure as a Hollywood star (and the fact that he wears the same cut-off t-shirt in every scene). Despite its flaws, the film does a good job of creating atmosphere and characters in which the audience is truly invested. While the plot can be confusing, Haven keeps its audience in anticipation.
