Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Sept 2, 2011 18:38:41 GMT -5
Plot:Three teenage boys are lured to the town of Cooper's Dell with the promise of a party. But instead of enjoying the night of their dreams, the teens are plunged into the nightmarish world of Pastor Abin Cooper and the Five Points Trinity, a fundamentalist group with a stockpile of weaponry and a deadly moral agenda. When word of the teens' disappearance reaches the authorities, a military task force is mobilized. With Cooper's Dell teetering between salvation and damnation, the ATF braces for furious gun battle with Cooper and his heavily armed followers in this fever-pitched action thriller from writer-director Kevin Smith.
Cast:
Michael Parks
Melissa Leo
Dermot Mulroney
Michael Angarano
Steven Root
Kevin Pollak
Matt L. Jones
Ralph Garman
Elizabeth Tripp
John Goodman
My Thoughts:Interesting picture.
Review:"Red State" is Kevin Smith's first so-called "horror movie". I wanna first say that this film is NOT traditional horror. Not in the realm of "The Hills Have Eyes", "Children Of The Corn", or any "horror film", that is set in a dusty, desolate, kind of backwoods'ish kind of place. This movie is horror more like "The Devil's Rejects". A movie where the characters are the monsters. And in some case become, the monsters. The movie is set in the small town of Cooper's Dell.
Where three high school friends decide to take a road trip in search of an internet "love interest", that they spotted while sifting through a smart phone. Basically, they're just looking to "hook up". Once the kids arrive at the location, they're quickly ambushed and taken prisoner by the five points church. A hyper-religious-fundamentalist group who look down on and denounce everything they deem as "unholy". From gays, to smut, and the like. Led by Abin Cooper (Parks), this church takes a violent stand against these acts.
And anyone who partakes in them. "Red State" really attempts to be disturbing with its content. But the movie is kind of coming a bit late. I think in times of our polarized politics, and further polarized regional cultures...a film like "Red State" is about maybe 8 years late with its content. It's a good movie. Mostly because of Parks performance as the psychologically-twisted and completely hard-hearted Abin Cooper. But when I watch this movie, I think to myself where was it in 2003?
Or 2005 even? It fitted more with the political climate of the Bush presidency. Instead of the Obama presidency. But then again, I might be being a big unfair. Kevin's been trying to get this film made for awhile. And it finally came together. But as I understood it, this movie had been "in the works" since 2008. Or maybe before then. But for some reason, the studios didn't wanna touch it. I really didn't see anything that explosive here. The movie doesn't take personal shots at anyone. There's no agenda here. It basically like I said, can be compared to "The Devil's Rejects".
In that the good guy eventually has to become the bad guy in order to capture or kill the "badder" guy. But unlike "Rejects", it's a lot smoother with its content. And goes more for making a point about good vs. evil. And fundamentalism and it's consequences. "Rejects" was really just a sequel trying to be very brash and harsh. "Red State" is a lot more grown up I would say. But the movie is not just dominated by Michael Parks as Abin. It's also carried well equally on the other side by John Goodman. Who shows up in the middle of the film as a federal-lawman with backup.
Who are called in to take down the bible-belt-kooks after the local lawman is threatened by Abin with some explosive information about his "hobbies". This as all hell has broken loose inside the five-pointers compound. After they loose control of their kidnapees. What's happening inside the compound negatively affects what's happening outside. After Abin and his followers open fire on the cops outside. The whole movie for the final about 30 minutes or so, is pretty much a shoot out/hostage situation/gun battle.
Pretty cool too considering the graphic nature of how everything goes down. And if you're thinking everything wraps up with Abin being shot dead, the cops storming the compound, saving the kids, and happily ever after...well, this is Kevin Smith we're talking about here. So he definitely opts for a whole nother route to take the final 30 of the movie. Without spoiling too much, it's certainly a lot more interesting and fresh than what we normally get these days in films where the cops have a group of crazies holed up inside a building.
"Red State" really focuses on human horror in general. And shows how a situation that starts off badly, can turn into something far worse much later on. But mostly, it shows that religious fundamentalism in the end, is not just a disaster for the people who have hatred constantly spewed at and upon them for how they choose to live their lives. But can have just as dire consequences for the hate-mongers themselves. In the end...everyone loses. And I guess that's what Smith was trying to get at here.
The movie itself again, is NOT a horror film in the traditional vein. But is definitely worth seeing. If not for Parks performance, than for the way everything eventually ends when Goodman's character has gone head to head with Abin, and the eventual final showdown looms. Yes, the film has torture, blood, and gore like a ''Hostel", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", or "Wolf Creek". But it feels far more real, less obligatory, and more importantly...not used to just eat up time.
It's an intricate part of the story. And is only used spottingly to move the film along and build character drama and tension. Setting up character interactions that because of these actions, are very tense and raw. I can respect that. And Smith seems to know that while he had to add horror-elements to the movie, he also tried not to go exploitative or overboard. All in all, "Red State" is a must-see. It's a mature horror/thriller that strays from the traditional mold, and goes more dramatic and adult.
Positives:A lot of raw emotion between characters. Parks and Goodman give good performances. The films final 25 to 30 minutes are very intense and intriguing. Great finish also. The material and content was also handled in a really mature and adult way. Avoiding being preachy or overbearing.
Negatives:Some characters died who I felt shouldn't have. One in particular. Not a huge negative, but a negative nonetheless.
Overall:Three and a half stars out of four.