If you’ve ever sat down to watch a Jamaican film that wasn't about a happy-go-lucky bobsled team, you’ve probably felt the weight of the island's real history. It’s heavy. Better Mus' Come, directed by Storm Saulter, isn't just a movie. Honestly, it’s a gut-punch disguised as a period piece.
Most people see the trailer and think it's a standard gang war flick. They're wrong. It’s a love story that gets choked out by 1970s Cold War politics.
Basically, the film follows Ricky—played by the incredibly intense Sheldon Shepherd—a single father and community leader trying to keep his head above water in Kingston. But it’s 1977. The air is thick with "isms." Socialism vs. Capitalism. The PNP vs. the JLP. Ricky is a "ghetto warrior" for the opposition, but he’s tired. He meets Kemala (Sky Nicole Grey), and for a second, you think they might actually make it out. Then the Green Bay Massacre happens.
The Real History Most People Miss
You can't talk about the better mus come jamaica movie without talking about the actual blood spilled on January 5, 1978. Storm Saulter didn't just make up a tragic ending for dramatic effect. He based it on the Green Bay Massacre.
In real life, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) lured a group of young men from Southside, Kingston—a JLP stronghold—to a military firing range at Green Bay under the guise of offering them jobs. Once there, they were ambushed. Five men died. Some escaped by jumping off cliffs into the sea.
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It was a scandal that rocked the nation.
When you watch the movie, that looming sense of dread isn't just good directing; it’s the weight of history. Saulter uses these characters to show how the "big man dem"—the politicians—used the youth as pawns and then discarded them when they became a liability. It’s a cynical cycle. Ricky isn't a villain. He's a consequence.
Why the Visuals Feel Different
Ever noticed how most Caribbean films have that "video" look? This one doesn't.
Saulter acted as his own cinematographer. He went for a look that feels like a memory—grainy, hot, and vibrant. He captures the "zinc fence" aesthetic without making it look like poverty porn. There are these long, pensive shots of Ricky just existing, which balance out the sudden, jagged bursts of violence.
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The soundscape is also a character. You’ve got the pulse of 70s reggae, but it’s not just the hits. It’s the dub, the bass-heavy rhythms that feel like a heartbeat. It makes the tension crackle.
- Director: Storm Saulter
- Lead Actors: Sheldon Shepherd, Sky Nicole Grey, Ricardo Orgill
- Release Year: 2010 (Jamaica), 2013 (US)
- Historical Anchor: The 1978 Green Bay Massacre
The "Better Mus' Come" Slogan
The title itself is a jab. "Better Must Come" was a 1972 campaign slogan for the People's National Party (PNP), led by Michael Manley. It was a promise of hope. By the time the movie takes place in 1977 and 1978, that hope had curdled for many in the inner cities.
The irony is thick.
Ricky is fighting for the "other side," but he’s essentially living in the wreckage of a broken promise. When Kemala asks him, "Why is it so easy to die for nothing?" she’s asking the question the entire country was screaming at the time.
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Does it Still Hold Up?
Looking at it now, years after its release, it feels even more relevant. In 2010, right around the time the film premiered in Kingston, the Tivoli Incursion happened. Real-life violence mirrored the silver screen once again. It’s like the island is stuck in a loop.
Critics often complain about the pacing. Yeah, it’s a bit of a slow burn. But that’s the point. Life in a garrison isn't just gunfights; it's the waiting. It’s the heat. It’s the lack of options that slowly grinds you down until picking up a gun feels like the only logical choice left.
How to Experience Better Mus' Come Properly
If you're going to watch it, don't just look for an action movie. Look for the nuances.
- Watch the body language. Sheldon Shepherd is a dub poet in real life, and his movement has a lyrical quality even when he's being violent.
- Listen to the Patois. They didn't "water it down" for international audiences. There are subtitles, sure, but the rhythm of the speech is authentic.
- Research the Cold War's impact on Jamaica. It puts the CIA/Cuban influence mentioned in the film into a much scarier context.
Honestly, the best way to appreciate this film is to see it as a bridge. It connects the "Golden Age" of Jamaican cinema (think The Harder They Come) to the new wave of filmmakers who aren't afraid to look at the ugly parts of the heritage.
Moving Beyond the Screen
If this movie moved you, there are a few things you can do to dive deeper into the culture and history that birthed it.
- Read "A Brief History of Seven Killings" by Marlon James. It covers the same era and the attempted assassination of Bob Marley. It’s the literary cousin to this film.
- Look up the New Caribbean Cinema collective. Storm Saulter co-founded this to help other regional filmmakers get their stories told without needing a Hollywood budget.
- Listen to 1970s Roots Reggae. Not just the Bob Marley hits, but the deep cuts from Burning Spear or The Abyssinians. That's the soundtrack of the revolution Ricky was caught in.
Better Mus' Come isn't an easy watch, but it’s a necessary one. It’s a reminder that "better" hasn't always come, but the struggle to find it is what makes us human.