Cold in July (2014)

Going into Jim Mickle's Cold In July, I had very low expectations, but I must say that Cold In July surpasses my very low expectations and is now a movie that I can consider slightly underrated.Cold In July features a great cast of very talented actors including Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson, who all bring something different to the table. Add in a bold, seedy narrative and an assortment of tones, Cold In July provides a somewhat uneven, but satisfying, roller-coaster ride of a movie.The first act of Cold In July is basically a blatant rip-off of David Cronenberg's A History of Violence. Being a fan of that film though, I didn't find this too much of an issue, but the resemblance between the two is uncanny. That said, the first act is ultimately pretty predictable. It's still watchable and fairly engrossing, but it isn't really until the second act where things take a very unexpected turn and things really pick up.The second act is where the film takes a huge leap in a different direction, and I must admit, it was ballsy, but it certainly pays off in the end. We are introduced formally to Sam Shepard's and Don Johnson's characters and the three form an unlikely, but hilarious team. Sadly though, after the introduction to these great characters, the act really begins to slow and sag compared to the rest of the film. But the third act really provides the relief and fun that we needed.The third act feels like a completely different movie than the rest, but this is where the film is most enjoyable. Our team gets drawn into a brutally dark secondary story line and from here is where we get some gritty, yet comedic, action violence that we all secretly wanted. The third act did feel somewhat disjointed but it was still an absolute blast and just a ton of fun.All three of these acts are very different from another and that does give Cold In July a disjointed and sometimes clumsy narrative. Story lines are brought in and dropped without resolution, and the tone switches are jarring at times. My biggest issue with the film is that it develops on some interesting ideas but never fully realizes them due to the story's frantic need to move forward at a break-neck pace. We abandon some interesting story lines throughout to replace them with others.Cold In July certainly isn't a polished and perfect movie. The jarring tone shifts and plot jumps give the film a staggered feeling. Despite these issues, Cold In July is well acted, entertaining and ultimately a ton of fun. Our unlikely team of likable anti-heroes have excellent chemistry, whether it be in the violent action sequences or the small spurts of dark humor. These interactions are all tightly-knit and leads to a surprisingly satisfying ending. This makes Cold In July a ton of fun to watch. Just don't go into it expecting a cohesive story or delicate narrative and you should be as pleased as I am.

Cold in July is directed by Jim Mickle and Mickle co-adapts the screenplay with Nick Damici from the novel written by Joe R. Lansdale. It stars Sam Shepard, Michael C. Hall and Don Johnson. Music is by Jeff Grace and cinematography is by Ryan Samul.1989 Texas and when Richard Dane (Hall) shoots and kills a burglar in his home, his life shifts into very dark places.A quality neo-noir pulper, Cold in July thrives because it never rests on its laurels. It consistently throws up narrative surprises, spinning the protagonists and us the audience into different territories. Fronted by three striking lead performances, each portraying a different type of character who bounce off of each other perfectly, the pic also has that late 80s swaggering appeal. Be it Grace's shifty synth based score, or the way Samul's photography uses primary colours for bold bluster, it's period reflective and tonally in keeping with the story.With substance in the writing, moody and dangerous atmosphere unbound and tech credits at the high end, this one is recommended with confidence to neo-noir fans. 8/10

totally loved this movie, which is set in the late 80's. it was good to see Don Johnson again and he was awesome in this movie. Michael Hall and Sam Shephard did a hell of a job too.the over-all rating of close to 7 is very fair for this movie, it was an engrossing watch and i didn't want it to end. except for when the VHS tape was playing and i knew what it was gonna be about, the other twists i didn't see coming. i would classify this movie as a modern western, thriller noir with a very good score. if you are not a nit-picker and give this movie a chance then you're going to enjoy a real little gem of a movie. there's so much evil in this world and i totally believe the evil that was perpetrated in this movie. hooray for the vigilantes and men of honor.

Director Jim Mickle and writer Nick Damici have seemingly taken the genre throwback corner of cinema by storm, churning out a trio of pulpy thrillers steeped in the atmospheric charm of 70's and 80's films. They proudly wear the influence of everyone from Dario Argento, to John Carpenter, to Walter Hill. Cold In July, my favourite of their three outings thus far, is a pulse pounding example of how to orchestrate a thriller that holds you in suspense without overdoing it. It's got just the right portions of violence, intrigue, menace and pathos needed to turn it's slightly complex story into a visceral winner. Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall plays Richard Dane, a meek family man who accidentally shoots a home invader dead one night. He's rattled, but the slick Sheriff (Nick Damici boldly displays that his knack for writing isn't the only talent under his belt, giving a low key but compelling turn) assures him he did the right thing. Then, the burglar's recently paroled father Ben Sullivan (Sam Shepherd) blows into town with malicious intent towards Dane. He's eventually captured by the Sheriff and suddenly the plot whips out from under you like a rug and heads in a direction you never saw coming, assuring you this won't be another weak entry in the potboiler books. The Sheriff, it turns out, is just south of honest and has played both Dane and Sullivan for nefarious ends. The two are forced to team up along with silver tongued private investigator Jim Bob Luke (Don Johnson) to get to the bottom of things, clear Ben's name and escape from the southern fried pickle they find themselves in. I won't say more plot - wise except to gush over what a thought out, deliberate story Damici weaves, a true pulp neo noir that ducks clichés and hits hard. Shepherd is an expert of the craft, and his Ben is quiet and stubborn, with flashes of youthful sharpness that have calcified into a hardened nobility in his old age. Best work from the guy in years. Hall displays a subtle shift from trauma to toughness, never losing the vulnerability he entered the story with, but infusing it with the stoicism he adopts simply because he has no choice but to see the ordeal to the end. Johnson is the one comic side of things, showing up in a cherry red Cadillac convertible called the Red Bitch, and splashing his natural charisma all over the place like hot sauce on chicken wings. I don't know why Don doesn't work all that much these days but he's an asset to anything he shows up in. He plays Luke with bushels of swagger, hysterical exasperation at Ben's belligerance and just the right touches of humanity which make his character the highlight for me. The three of them together share a thoroughly amusing dynamic, forced together by chance from different walks of life, each bringing their own qualities to the table in character arcs that satisfy greatly. The film also has a terrific synth style score that jangles and thumps along to the story beats in perfect synergy. I'd like to think that each artist that Mickle and Damici have paid homage to would be proud, as Cold In July hums along with that perfectly crafted, intangible atmosphere that all the great thrillers possess.