Gasoline Alley (2022)

Gasoline Alley is a scrappy little neo-noir that sneaks up on you: it looks like a familiar low-budget thriller, then keeps finding sharper angles, nastier corners, and a few genuinely satisfying surprises. Devon Sawa carries the film with a hungry, lived-in performance as a man trying to outrun his past while digging into a Hollywood underbelly that feels grimy, pulpy, and enjoyably mean. The vibe is late-night-LA cynical—tattoo parlors, crooked smiles, and the sense that everyone’s selling something—while Bruce Willis and Luke Wilson add a worn-detective texture that fits the story’s hardboiled mood. It’s not for viewers who want a polished prestige mystery or who shy away from R-rated violence and sleaze, but if you’re in the mood for a twisty, street-level crime ride with some real bite, it’s an easy watch to recommend.

Gasoline Alley is clearly aiming for a gritty, modern-noir whodunit where a wrongly accused guy dives into LA’s seedy underbelly and uncovers a bigger conspiracy. The problem is it often feels like it’s going through the motions: the script leans hard on familiar crime-thriller clichés, the pacing can drift, and the mystery rarely tightens into something genuinely suspenseful. If you’re hoping for a sharp, twisty thriller with real atmosphere and escalating intrigue, this may feel lifeless and oddly structured. That said, Devon Sawa brings some committed, world-weary energy, and if you’re simply in the mood for a straightforward, R-rated crime story with a few tough-guy moments, it can pass the time.