DVD Review: Kevin Smith Tries Something New With ‘Red State’

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CHICAGO – Everyone who told me about “Red State” prefaced it with the disclaimer that I would be stunned that it was directed by Kevin Smith. Sure, it’s a departure from his indie comedies like “Clerks” and “Mallrats” but I feel like people who are amazed he made a dark thriller like “Red State” must have never really given the writer/director enough credit. I have some serious issues with how Smith behaved regarding critics after “Cop Out” but I was a fan of every single one of his works before then and I’m happy that he chose to do something different with his talent. I think the result is a bit more sloppy than it needs to be but there’s a lot to like here, including a stellar performance from Michael Parks.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

I’m also a bit surprised at the number of people who told me “Red State” was a horror movie. Sure, it’s incredibly frightening, but don’t pick this up as a Halloween rental expecting “The Last Exorcism II”. This is a movie about real-life horrors — about prejudice, homophobia, and the potential nightmare that always feels like it’s about to erupt when fringe groups face off with a U.S. government that wishes they didn’t exist. It’s a film about control and the best thing about it how Smith the writer is constantly playing with audience perception of who exactly has that control. He very cleverly switches protagonists, sides, and even stories until the viewer’s head is spinning just enough for the movie to be over. I wish Smith had refined the action of the second half of the film just a bit and I think there’s a stronger version that plays even longer (this is a brief 88 minutes) in which the breakneck pace of the majority of the action is allowed to slow a bit for things like tension and dread. Yes, this is a Kevin Smith with TOO MUCH action. Maybe I CAN see why people gave me a disclaimer.

Red State was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011
Photo credit: Lionsgate

Michael Angarano and Kyle Gallner play a pair of Southern boys looking for a little fun. With a third buddy, they respond to a sexual online ad, hoping to get in, get off, and get out. They arrive to find Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, who seems ready for what was promised online. Before they know it, they’ve been kidnapped and, as they’re held under the stage, forced to listen to a long (especially for a short film) sermon from the notorious Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks). Cooper and his Five Points Trinity Church is the kind of group that protest funerals, spreads hatred, and collects guns. Lots of guns. It turns out that they also kill. After witnessing them murder a homosexual in the name of religion, the boys try to escape.

Red State was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011 Photo credit: Lionsgate

Without spoiling anything about a script filled with WTF moments, the government eventually gets involved as the ATF (led by John Goodman) comes down on the compound, essentially in an effort to wipe it and all of its residents off the face of the Earth. A heated gun battle ensues but the shifting allegiances here are one of the most fascinating elements of Smith’s script. We watch Cooper do horrendous, horrible things to the point that one would assume that Goodman and his team will be painted as good guys when they arrive. That’s not exactly the case and I like that Smith basically turns his focus to the people caught in the middle when all Hell breaks loose.

The DVD of “Red State” includes several deleted scenes, featurettes, and a ton of Smodcast commentaries. Smith has never been afraid to talk about his work (he’s probably tweeting about it right now) and it’s nice to have someone so revealing about his process. “Red State” and its unusual distribution angered a few critics at Sundance (many of whom I think were still smarting over the feeling that those of us who supported Smith in his early days were now of no use to him simply because we hated “Cop Out.”) I think history will be kind to “Red State” and it is clearly already growing a loyal following (as many Smith films do). Whatever one says about the film, it was a daring move on the part of its director. Those who complained about Smith delivering the same kind of movie repeatedly should have at least given credit for the attempt at a new direction. I always knew he had it in him. I’m just happy he let it out. And, more than any time since his early days, I’m REALLY curious about what he’s going to do next.

Special Features:
o “The Making Of Red State” Documentary
o “Red State Of The Union” SModcasts
o The Sundance Speech with Introduction by Kevin Smith
o A Conversation with Michael Parks with Introduction by Kevin Smith
o Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Kevin Smith
o Trailers with Introduction by Kevin Smith
o Poster Gallery with Introduction by Kevin Smith

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com