Review: Red State
For those of you who know Kevin Smith for his comedy film-making skills, prepare to be amazed at his latest creation: Red State. He has taken a new direction, leaving the rom-coms and fantasy comedies behind to explore the more sinister area of film genre. Red State is a far cry from the likes of Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Dogma or Clerks – this film maker has attempted to reinvent himself and unlike so many who have made that mistake before him, it seems he has actually done so with great success.
Red State follows a host of characters as they embark on a dark and unsettling journey into the conflicting lives of extremists, officials and your ‘average Joe’ Americans. Delving into the world of extreme Christian fundamentalism and the hatred for ‘sinful’ America, this film makes for controversial matter, though it’s obvious audiences should watch with a pinch of salt. There is no protagonist, and there certainly isn’t a ‘hero’. Put simply: it’s a battle between religious nut cases, the corrupt government…and sex.
The film opens with the introduction of three teenage boys. After little deliberation, the horny trio set off to indulge in a three way romp with a woman advertising herself on the web, only to find that things aren’t as they seem. The film takes a sinister turn, when they find themselves thrown unwillingly into the disgustingly eerie territory of the ‘Five Points Church’. Who are the Five Points Church? Think: the twisted love children of Fred Phelps and Myra Hindley. Michael Parks plays the fascinating leader of the Five Points Church, captivating his followers and the audience with his unrelenting bigotry, before ordering his members to execute the so called ‘sinner’. These first few scenes are horrifyingly gripping. The cold but charismatic preaching from Pastor Abin Cooper sounding over the screams of the terrified captives creates an extremely chilling atmosphere, giving you that feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach that every horror film strives for.
The whole film, however, doesn’t stay consistently within the boundaries of this hair-raising thriller. In fact, Red State could be two different films spawning from totally separate genres – but don’t be fooled, this isn’t a criticism. As the tense, nail biting scenes speed up, audiences are suddenly thrown into an action packed sequence of events marked by the fast paced blows of warfare. Sinister preaching, torture and fear is replaced by screaming, gunshots and witty one liners, leaving the ghastly horror behind and entering the hectic shoot ‘em up territory. Even the focus of characters shift, with the second half of the film introducing John Goodman as special agent Keenan; Goodman plays a brilliant role in Red State, with Keenan possibly being the most likeable character throughout.
Kevin Smith’s film refuses to sit comfortably in any genre or adhere to common story telling frameworks. He breaks the rules with confidence, leaving the audience in an uneasy state of dread for the unknowing. No one is safe in Red State. Preconceived notions are shattered when characters the audience thought central to the film are slaughtered without a shred of hesitation. Unlike many other film makers, Kevin Smith refuses to hold the audiences hand through this nightmare situation. The deaths of characters you care about are no less sudden or brutal than the deaths of those you don’t, and this is a rare type of realism many films fail to deliver.
All in all, Red State is a must watch – if not for the nail biting, action packed thrill, then at least for the novelty of knowing Kevin Smith, of all people, can make a damn good thriller/horror/action (or whatever you want to call it). There are so many aspects of this film to appreciate – whether you fancy watching a no-brainer or something you can stew over. The filming is done beautifully, the acting is superb and the controversial storyline is definitely food for thought. Red State is politics and religion laced with blood and guts.
