Rising filmmaker Sky Directs taps into the hood filmmaking guide for his debut feature, Run Nixon. The director also edits the film and pens the screenplay with Michelle Vital. Dre, played by Lil’ Fizz, is a father who faces a race against time to save his son Nixon, played by Emperor Kaioyus.

During a basketball game, Nixon has a heart attack and must have an expensive operation. The situation becomes more critical as Nixon’s mother, Stacy, played by Sicily Cameron, takes a daring step into the criminal underworld to rob Slice, played by Jordan Lee Brown, to fund their son’s surgery.

Unbeknownst to Dre, this audacious move triggers a relentless chain of events, leading Slice to retaliate by kidnapping Nixon. The tension reaches a boiling point in an electrifying face-off with Slice, a testament to a father’s unwavering love and courage.

I want to praise the director for successfully getting the film to be screened in theaters with the AMC theater chain. Additionally, I appreciate the director’s efforts to ensure that the film looks sharp and avoids any poor-quality shots often seen in other films of this genre that are available on streaming platforms like Tubi. Furthermore, there are some.

I didn’t expect a groundbreaking performance because Lil Fizz was formerly in a boy band. However, he has a decent screen presence as a determined, protective father who will stop at nothing to save his son. With some more acting classes and the right director, he may have found a new career as an urban thespian.

I didn’t recognize anyone else in the supporting cast, which may have helped the film. Sicily Cameron brings the right amount of hood girl moxie to a stripper who makes a hasty decision to protect her son, while Jordan Lee Brown makes a quality antagonist. I will reiterate that this film has a first-time director, and many newcomers are the film’s centerpiece, but it kept my attention.

Nevertheless, for a first-timer, the direction and cinematography of Run Nixon were generally well-executed, capturing the gritty and dangerous atmosphere of its urban setting. The director effectively utilizes his locations to create a sense of tension during the second half.

While Run Nixon did surprise me, it is not without its flaws. The plot is formulaic and predictable, following familiar tropes of the genre, and it’s longer than it needs to be. Finally, some dialogue and character interactions also felt cliché and lacked depth.

Despite lacking originality, Run Nixon features solid direction, strong performances, and a compelling story about a father’s love for his son. I look forward to seeing what the director can do with an even bigger budget.

Final Grade: C+

Run Nixon begins playing exclusively at AMC theaters tonight.