All Day and a Night 2020

In the dimly lit streets of Oakland, California, Jahkor Lincoln (Ashton Sanders) prowls through the shadows, his presence a harbinger of chaos. Meanwhile, in a nearby home, Malcolm (Stephen Barrington), a ruthless gangster, is ensconced with his girlfriend Cece (Cydnee Barry) and their daughter Miesha (Bianca Richelle). The tranquility of their evening is shattered when Jahkor bursts into the bedroom, his guns drawn. A tense standoff ensues, culminating in Malcolm’s brutal demise at the hands of Jahkor.

As Jahkor stands trial for his heinous crime, Cece’s mother delivers a scathing rebuke, condemning Jahkor to a lifetime behind bars. In the depths of prison, Jahkor begins to reflect on the events that led him down this dark path. As a childhood victim of bullying, he found solace in the company of Lamark (Ramone Hamilton) and TQ (Kaleb Alexander Roberts), fellow outcasts who shared his struggles. Tragedy struck when Jahkor’s father, JD (Jeffrey Wright), a coke-addled brute, unleashed physical and emotional abuse upon him, while his mother Delonda (Kelly Jenrette) fought valiantly to maintain stability.

As Jahkor matured, he developed a penchant for violence, using it as a means of asserting himself. Petty thefts and street fights became a staple of his life, but an unexpected passion for rapping emerged, fueled by a desire to make a name for himself in the hip-hop world. In adulthood, Jahkor continued to frequent the same circles, surrounded by Lamark (now Christopher Meyer) and TQ (now Isaiah John). Lamark’s military stint was cut short due to injury, while TQ fell prey to the allure of gang life, aligning with the notorious T-Rex (James Earl), a rapper-gangster who introduced him to Malcolm. Though Jahkor resisted TQ’s urgings to join the gang, his loyalty remained unwavering.

In the prison yard, a warning from an inmate reaches Jahkor: Malcolm’s cohorts are gunning for him, but if he plays his cards right, his loved ones will be spared. Another prisoner goads Jahkor into reacting, only to be foiled by JD, who intervenes on his son’s behalf. The seeds of chaos have been sown, as Jahkor navigates the treacherous landscape of prison politics and old rivalries.

The stage is set for a confrontation when Jahkor and TQ attend the funeral of a mutual acquaintance, where they cross paths with Big Stunna (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a ruthless gangster and Malcolm’s arch-nemesis. As they pay their respects to the deceased, Big Stunna and his girlfriend La-Trice (Rolanda D. Bell) display a surprising display of empathy, pledging financial support to the grieving family. The undertone is clear: this is a battle for dominance, with Jahkor at its epicenter.

As news of Shantaye’s pregnancy fills Jahkor with an unbridled sense of excitement and responsibility, the harsh realities of providing for their unborn child in an honest manner begin to sink in. Despite his fervent desire to do right by them, Jahkor finds himself struggling to secure legitimate employment due to a lack of credentials, ultimately landing a job at a shoe store where he’s forced to contend with condescending customers who refuse to believe he’s the actual employee. Meanwhile, back on the inside, Jahkor implores Shantaye not to bring their son Zion to visit him in prison, desperate to shield his child from the harsh realities of his own circumstances.

A poignant flashback reveals a younger Jahkor caught in the midst of his parents’ bitter disagreements over how he should be raised. In the present, Delonda pays a visit to her incarcerated son, only to berate him for squandering his life, her words cutting deep into Jahkor’s already fragile psyche.

In another instance of street-level chaos, Jahkor accompanies Shantaye and TQ to Stunna’s birthday celebration on the streets. His natural wariness of strangers leads him to quickly identify two thugs sent by Malcolm, whom he watches with a mixture of trepidation as Stunna executes them both with deadly precision. Later, Jahkor meets with Stunna and La-Trice to discuss potential employment opportunities, given his boss’s current staffing shortages.

As Jahkor sits in his cell, he receives a letter from Shantaye detailing Zion’s progress, which prompts him to pen a heartfelt response. His thoughts are interrupted by memories of his grandmother Tommetta (Regina Taylor), whose unwavering support and love stood in stark contrast to Delonda’s earlier neglect.

On the outside, Jahkor is rocked to his core when T-Rex shows him a sex tape featuring Shantaye and another man. Confronting her at her home, Jahkor is met with a defense that this was all before she ever met him, but he storms out in anger, leaving behind a trail of brokenness.

Later, while working at the shoe store, Jahkor overhears his coworker spewing venomous insults about him, prompting him to instruct TQ to follow her. The ensuing chaos culminates with both being pulled over and arrested, leaving Jahkor to be bailed out by Delonda and her new boyfriend Ray-Ray (John Que), whose careless comment sparks a violent reaction from Jahkor, who ultimately decks the man in front of his mother.

In a heart-to-heart with JD, Jahkor reveals that TQ has been working for Malcolm all along and warns his friend about the potential threats lurking beneath the surface. As he returns to his cell, Jahkor sets about crafting himself a makeshift shank, readying himself for whatever dangers may lie ahead.

As the narrative unfolds, a series of flashbacks reveal the tumultuous past of Jahkor (character). One such flashback showcases an early encounter between him and T-Rex, where Jahkor attempts to share his music with the latter, only to be met with indifference. Later, he visits Lamark in the hospital, where he’s informed that the patient may never regain the ability to walk again. This somber revelation precedes Jahkor’s visit to Stunna, where he offers his services in eliminating Malcolm (character). La-Trice supplies him with clean guns for the task.

A childhood flashback then transports us back in time to witness young Jahkor overhearing JD arguing over a debt owed to him. Following the heated conversation, Jahkor accompanies JD as he confronts the individual responsible for the financial obligation. The young boy is shocked when he bears witness to his father’s brutal murder of the man. Subsequently, Jahkor observes JD purchasing cocaine from Malcolm, which serves as a stark reminder that his father has fallen prey to addiction.

Jahkor’s frustration with his father’s situation culminates in a visit to Malcolm, where he implores him to cease supplying cocaine to JD. However, Malcolm dismisses Jahkor’s concerns, citing the fact that his friend is his best customer. This interaction sets the stage for Jahkor’s eventual decision to eliminate Malcolm.

After the deed is done, Jahkor seeks refuge at Shantaye’s (character) residence, where he spends the night. The following morning, a team of officers storms the premises, intent on apprehending him. Behind bars, Jahkor reaches out to Shantaye, signaling that he’s prepared for her to bring Zion to visit him.

A series of events transpires in prison, including the revelation that TQ is serving time for violating his parole. Another flashback then takes us back to a pivotal moment when Stunna and La-Trice learned of T-Rex and TQ’s involvement with Malcolm. Seizing control of their own fate, they personally execute T-Rex.

As Jahkor navigates the prison yard, he encounters TQ in a seemingly amicable encounter. However, this brief respite is short-lived as both men suddenly produce shanks and engage in a brief struggle before Jahkor quietly dispatches TQ with precision. The murder occurs amidst multiple witnesses, yet remarkably, it remains silent.

Shantaye eventually brings Zion to the prison, allowing Jahkor to finally meet his son. As he reflects on their encounter, Jahkor vows that his child will not follow in his or JD’s footsteps. Meanwhile, it appears that Jahkor and JD will soon have an opportunity to bond with each other, albeit within the confines of their shared prison environment.