Kevin Smith (Cop Out, Zack And Miri Make A Porno) is making a horror/thriller. It wasn’t exactly the thing I was expecting to hear, after Smith is one of the greatest comedy writer/directors of our time. To say I was nervous about seeing Red State is an understatement, could this brilliant director turn his career around by attacking a new genre. Well the question is answered with a resounding yes as Smith turns around his bad form of Cop Out with Red State – a sensational film that really does show that Smith is a genius.
Throughout Red State, Smith lets the film change genre as he wishes. The film begins like some of Smith’s past sex comedies with three middle-American teens, Travis (Michael Angarano – The Art Of Getting By, Haywire), Billy-Ray (Nicholas Braun – Chalet Girl, Prom) and Randy (Ronnie Connell – TV’S Awkward & Good Job, Thanks!) answering a sex classified in a bid to get laid. They travel to a small town where they meet Sara (Melissa Leo – The Fighter, Conviction) who posted the classified. The film then moves into the thriller genre when Sara drugs them and they are taken captive by an extremist cult led by Abin Cooper (Michael Parks – Street Poet, Satisfaction). Red State then turns into a cop drama as the Feds organize a raid, led by Joseph Keenan (John Goodman – TV’S Damages & Community).
Normally a film that switches genres is sure to fail miserably but Smith manages to pull it off remarkably well and as the closing credits flash across the screen you just know that Red State is a film that is going to stay with you for a long time. There are moments of pure brilliance in Red State. As the film played I’ll admit I wasn’t bought by the scene of Michael Park’s huge monologue (disguised as a sermon in Church) but then afterwards I realized what Smith was trying to do the scene – nearly every the film stands against is in that monologue and that only proves what a fine filmmaker Smith really is. He even manages to fit some humour into Red State and that also works. Even the fact that both the cult and the Government come across as the ‘bad guys’ is also something different, but works in a way that will satisfy the entire audience.
While the young cast do a fine job in Red State, it is the older brigade that steal the show. Michael Parks and Melissa Leo are in award-winning form while John Goodman reminds Hollywood that he has been wasting away on television for far too long now. The acting by all involved in the siege scenes is phenomenal and as far as ensemble casts go Red State has one of the best going around.
Red State once again reminds just how important and talented Kevin Smith is as a filmmaker. His writing and directing is spot on and this really is him at his talented best. An amazing film, Red State demands respect.
Year: 2011
Director: Kevin Smith
Stars: Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Ronnie Connell, Melissa Leo, Michael Parks, John Goodman
Classification: TBA
Runtime: 88 mins
Rating: 
Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 22nd March 2012