B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - DEAD END (2003)

Made for less than a million dollars, the slightly obscure Dead End is a chilling little indie you don't want to miss. It might just be the best Christmas horror movie no one ever heard of and every dollar is up there on the screen. It's quirky, weird, funny, bizarre, and scary all at once. Black comedy for sure but much more, this would make a nice double feature with The Perfect Host, another movie we're big on around here. So, grab some eggnog and a snack or two and check out the inimitable Ray Wise with legendary Lin Shaye as they take their family down a wrong turn, what's up with this road? Why doesn't it end? After all, they're just trying to make it to Christmas Eve dessert at Frank's mother's house. Tubi, Plex, Freevee, enjoy! 2.75 stars/2.75

Friday, May 27, 2022

SEAN BAKER DOES IT AGAIN WITH "RED ROCKET" (2021) - SIMON REX STARS AS A DOWN AND OUT PORN STAR

 

On the heels of his last film, the delicious Florida Project, comes Red Rocket about a porn star who returns home and starts dating a seventeen year old fast food clerk. Nobody in his hometown wants him back there especially his ex-wife whose door he just shows up at. After only a couple days back under her roof he's boning her, starting to see the fast food chick and selling weed following a series of one bad choice after another just like our protagonist in Florida Project. And just like Halley in the end gets everything he bargained for karma-wise. 

I'm still new to this guy's work so I'm not sure if he's trying to teach us a moral lesson in these two films about seedy characters or if he's advocating a do-what-you-want lifestyle. I don't really care, his films have a great style to them and he obviously loves working with actors and characters. Red Rocket is sleazier and doesn't have as much charm as Florida Project but is still just as gripping. I just added Tangerine to my wishlist and look forward to see what this guy comes up with next.  4.0 stars/5




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