Road to Perdition (2002)

Road to Perdition (2002) is a moody, elegiac crime drama set in 1931 about a hit man who must protect his son after the boy witnesses a mob murder. Tom Hanks plays Mike Sullivan, a loyal enforcer for Irish crime boss John Rooney (Paul Newman), whose paternal favoritism toward Sullivan sparks deadly jealousy in his volatile son, Connor. When Sullivan’s twelve-year-old, Michael Jr., sees a hit carried out, father and son are forced onto the road as Sullivan fights to keep his family alive and seek justice while wrestling with guilt, duty and the possibility of redemption. Viewers can expect a slow-burning, atmospheric thriller — spare, often quiet scenes punctuated by sudden, brutal violence — with strong, understated performances and a haunting visual style (rain-soaked streets, shadowed interiors) that emphasizes moral ambiguity and loss. The film mixes tense chase-and-escape sequences with intimate father-son moments, building to a tragic, emotionally charged conclusion. If you like character-driven period crime stories that prioritize mood, cinematography, and moral complexity over nonstop action, Road to Perdition delivers a powerful, elegiac experience.

Actors: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey

Director: Sam Mendes

Runtime: 117 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

7.6 /10 72 /100 7.7 /10 7.5 /10