Cold in July Reviews

Since I kept hearing some interesting things about this movie, I was quite eager to check it out. Well, to be honest, it took me a while to get into this flick. Indeed, at first, it seemed to be a rather generic stalking thriller and, for a while, I was really wondering what was supposed to be so good about the damned thing. However, around the middle, they came up with some major twist which completely flipped around the whole story and, suddenly, the damned thing became so much more interesting to behold. And, then, when I was pretty much digging this new narrative direction, out of the blue, came another major twist which again changed everything. The complete unpredictability of the whole thing made it quite spellbinding and the movie definitely stood out from your average thriller. However, even if it was quite bold, it didn’t completely work though. Indeed, the first part was just too long and, as a result, everything else happening afterwards felt rather rushed. Furthermore, they spent a good chunk of the running time showing that the main character was torn by guilt and desperately trying to figure who was the poor guy he actually shot but, after the first twist, it was completely dropped. Same thing with Ben Russell, he went from stalking a man for allegedly killing his son to actually killing his own son within a span of 40 minutes which was intriguing but also rather far-fetched. Anyway, to conclude, even if not everything completely worked, it was still a bold thriller and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre. 

In small-town Texas in 1989, Richard (Michael C. Hall) works as a picture framer, making his unremarkable living to support his wife Ann (Vinessa Shaw) and young son Jordan (Brogan Hall). In the early hours of the morning one night, Richard hears a commotion in the living room, which leads to him shooting and killing an intruder. With the burglar identified as a wanted felon, Richard is hailed as a hero by the locals, but he's shaken by the incident, disturbed that he has taken a life. Soon, the dead man's father, Ben (Sam Shepard), shows up out of nowhere, lurking around and making vague threats, which puts Richard on edge. Although the police set out to protect him and his family, some question marks in the police work begin to trouble Richard. Things are further complicated with the arrival of private detective Jim Bob (Don Johnson), who helps to shed light on the mysteries that trouble Richard.

At first, Cold in July shapes up to be a revenge movie of sorts, with Ben ostensibly determined to harm Richard and his family in response to the death of his son. Mickle dabbles in outright horror in the opening act, and the results are gripping to watch. But with the arrival of Jim Bob, the movie evolves into something entirely different seemingly out of nowhere, and it's a huge credit to Mickle and co-writer Nick Damici (who also plays a detective) that the transition is so seamless. Although the set-up is not exactly groundbreaking at first glance, the twists and turns bestow Cold in July with more originality than lazier forays into the thriller genre. Besides, it's the sense of atmosphere that makes the picture so memorable and mesmerising.

Retaining the novel's time period, Cold in July is set in 1989, and it actually feels like a product of the '80s. Period costuming and sets (not to mention odd hairstyles) populate the frame, the colour scheme is reminiscent of '80s movies, and the flick is complemented by a beautifully retro, synch-driven score by Jeff Grace which was visibly inspired by the works of John Carpenter. The illusion would perhaps have been better served if Mickle shot the movie on film stock rather than with digital cameras, but this barely matters in the grand scheme of things. Cold in July is one of 2014's manliest movies; it's vehemently R-rated, with violence that pulls no punches and men who talk like real men. The finale is especially stunning, as the picture climaxes with a brutal, white-knuckle shootout that brings the story to a haunting end.

Hall began work on Cold in July soon after wrapping up the TV show Dexter, perceiving the movie as an opportunity to try something different, expand his range, and avoid being typecast. Frankly, it's difficult to imagine any other actor playing this role as successfully as Hall, who's highly convincing every step of the way. He sells Richard's fear and anxiety, on top of coming off as a believable father and husband. Yet, it's also understated work, and Hall is perfectly supported by both Johnson and Shepard, who submit truly brilliant performances. They're both manly as fuck.

It's difficult to pigeonhole Cold in July into any one genre. Mickle mixes elements of film noir, thrillers, detective stories, police procedurals and revenge flicks with a smidge of horror, but it cannot be strictly classified as any of the above. The movie is its own unique creation, a distinctive feature that deserves to be seen for its top-notch cinematic technique and a host of sublimely focused performances from some of the finest thespians working in motion pictures today. It's truly saddening that it will probably remain an obscure cult curiosity despite the tremendous critical acclaim it rightfully received.

8.9/10