Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A look at the controversial riot cops unit, told through the stories of three veteran cops and a young recruit.
A.C.A.B. offers a gritty, ground-level look at Italian riot police that feels authentic and morally complex, anchored by solid ensemble performances and a raw visual style that suits its subject. The interwoven stories of veteran officers and a recruit give it narrative texture, though the structure can feel episodic and uneven. Its unflinching portrayal of institutional violence and moral compromise gives it genuine distinctiveness within European crime-drama, though it doesn't fully transcend its influences. The ending, however, feels somewhat abrupt and unsatisfying, failing to deliver a resonant payoff for the moral tensions built throughout.