Those were my main thoughts while watching the movie Red State. Directed and written by Kevin Smith, this film is a whirlwind of surprises. The biggest surprise came for me when I found out that this was a horror movie, which happened about twenty minutes into the film. I started watching this movie because I saw that it was available for instant streaming on Netflix. I knew that it was directed by Kevin Smith, and that, therefore, I was bound to like it. Clerks, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back are among my favorite films, and Smith's Q&A sessions are the stuff of legend (seriously, look them up). Because Netflix labeled Red State under the primary genre of action and adventure, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started to watch this film. Call me crazy, but I was expecting an action comedy in the vein of Hot Fuzz. That is NOT what I got.
Though he mainly writes dialogue-driven comedies, this film is not Smith's first attempt at action. He also directed the 2010 action comedy Cop Out starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. However, this is his first foray into horror, and all I can say is that I wish he had attempted the genre sooner.
I hate to delve too much into the plot for fear of giving too much away. The movie is about a fringe protestant, ultra-conservative protestant church that makes a habit of enacting God's wrath by killing "sinners." In addition to this hobby, members of the church are avid gun enthusiasts. So much so that they attract the attention of the ATF. Chaos and unbridled bloodshed ensues (think Westboro Baptist Church meets The Wicker Man meets Waco, TX). The plot of the story makes it unconventional for a horror story. While the villains are easy to spot, determining just who is a protagonist is a bit trickier. Talking in this film is minimal, excluding a sermon by the pastor of the church, so there isn't much of a chance to determine who the potential protagonists might be, until all other candidates are dead.
Again, though the dialogue is minimal, the acting in this film is very authentic. You can almost understand the charismatic appeal of the pastor (played by Michael Parks) of the hate-filled "Five Points Trinity Church," and, unsettlingly enough, I even found myself wanting to sing along to a gospel song or two during their sacrificial worship service. Kyle Gallner, the current "it" boy of horror, is also in this film. And last but not least, the unforgettable John Goodman steals the show, playing an ATF agent confronted with having to choose between what is right and what is easy.
The film is relatively fast paced, at only 88 minutes long. So if you like action, then this is the movie for you. Interestingly, what makes this film sing is the dialogue (despite the fact that there isn't very much of it), which, as I previously mentioned, is Smith's specialty. There is a poignant soliloquy towards the end of the film that is nothing short of perfection, followed quickly by the awkward lightheartedness that made Kevin Smith famous. Nevertheless, the film ends with a definite message that is very real and, if you follow his personal opinions, very personal to the director.
It's a shame that this film went straight to DVD because Smith's controversial decision to self-distribute. Perhaps if Red State had been shown in theatres instead of simply shopped around at film festivals, more people would have the opportunity to appreciate it. Though many critics have published poor reviews of the film, it has also been lauded by Tarantino and others. Who knows, maybe this film will reach cult status in ten years, or maybe DVD sales will start to pick up on Smith's website. Either way, sooner or later, I think that people will have to see this film for what it truly is: an experimental piece of art that deserves its day in the sun.
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