3/11, 2:45 PM Camera 12

Peter Stormare (“Fargo”) is almost unrecognizable in this character-driven film. He plays Walter, a once-violent, now born-again police chief in a small Mennonite town in Ontario. When a woman’s body is found, his new life is at risk — the prime suspect is the new squeeze of his ex-girlfriend, an unpleasant fellow who is all too happy to push Walter’s buttons. Will Walter be able to keep his brutal impulses in check? Will his personal history with the people involved jeopardize the investigation? “Small Town Murder Songs” is gripping, perfectly crafted and has just the right balance of violence and quiet.