Wild Is The Wind – Crime Drama

Vusi, a black cop in small town South African, and John, his partner and best friend, make a dubious decision to steal a stash of cocaine during a sex trafficking bust. Both are desperate for cash: Vusi to leave this rural town in pursuit of a better life in Joburg; John in order to save his family farm which is facing foreclosure.

After they conclude their deal with local crime lord Mongo, they are called to the scene of the murder of Melissa Van Der Walt, the 17-year-old daughter of the local butcher. Tensions simmer in the town as some white citizens jump to the conclusion that the murderer must be black. Initially the investigation points to Melissa’s ex-boyfriend, Hennie, but when his alibi holds, Vusi and John pursue the next probable suspect, Sonnyboy, a 20-year-old black boy with a history of crime, who was dating Melissa at the time of her death.

Propelled by the mayor’s offer of a personal reward for the arrest of the murderer, the police decide to raid Mongo’s bar. Vusi, wanting to protect his deal, warns Mongo but this doesn’t stop Mongo from going after him and taking back his money to prove a point. Sonnyboy is finally caught but denies killing Melissa. His story is that Melissa dropped him at home but on their way there, they were almost run off the road by a white hunting bakkie. Vusi connects this to a similar bakkie that was spotted on the surveillance footage from the bar Melissa spent her last night at, but John is convinced that they have the right guy in Sonnyboy: he has to get Sonnyboy convicted so they can at least get the reward money Vusi ‘lost’ it to Mongo.

Vusi finds the hunting bakkie and steals some hair from it. The DNA matches that found under Melissa’s nails and belongs to Wilhelm Jooste. But it is too late for Sonnyboy. On his way to court, he is shot and killed by Martin, Melissa’s father Understanding the impact of the evidence as Sonnyboy dies in his arms, John is overcome by guilt and agrees to go with Vusi to capture the real killer. But Wilhelm is armed and backed up by a right-wing militia force. John and Vusi come under fire. John is shot and killed before back-up finally arrives. Wilhelm flees. Vusi finds trophies of other murders that Wilhelm has committed. He goes after him to a mountain cabin where a fight to the death ensues. Vusi prevails and Wilhelm pays the price for his murderous ways.