CHEAP THRILLS (2014)

Directed by: E.L Katz 
Written By: Trent Haaga & David Chirchirillo 
Cinematography By: Andrew Wheeler & Sebastian Wintero 
Editor: Brody Gusar 

 Cast: Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton, David Koechner, Amanda Fuller

I will admit that I have a soft spot for most of the cast members as I have enjoyed them in other films and often times been better then the material. Here they each get their time to shine.

The film certainly fits into a genre setting. Soon it becomes less about being a contest and more about watching the ever increasing challenges take their toll more mentally on the characters then the physical aspects of each stunt. Which have their own set of thrills. It's a nasty piece of work.

While I enjoy the film. The only problem I found is that for me at least the film was predictable. Then again I tend to watch more dark and bleak material. So that the turns the film takes were hardly surprising though enjoyable from a story standpoint to watch the film go through the motions. Not exactly predictable, but you may realize where the film Is going. As many a film tag lines has said "No one get's out of this film clean"

It covers it's corners for all motivations and reasoning to make sense so that it never truly feels false. The Claustrophobic nature makes it small yet provides a certain intimacy. To see the lunacy close up as it progresses. Not allowing us to look away

It might also be that as a fan who has watched co-screenwriter Trent Haaga's career (CHOP, DEAD GIRL) I have seen the depths of his writing so far and know where he will take his scripts and it's characters so that anything can happen and usually the worst case scenerio does.

It's a survival tale in a way. How far will you go for your own or for the survival of others.

It brings to mind the Alfred Hitchcock presents classic episode "The Man From The South" and the Quentin Tarantino segment of FOUR ROOMS "The man from Hollywood" as well as THE TALES FROM THE CRYPT episode starring Lance Henriksen "Cutting Cards" only here taken to a more extreme yet realistic level.

Though the film is gruesome there was only one scene to me that was truly hard is it through the devouring scene. That puts you to the test. What works and keeps you compelled other then the story is the constant wonder of how far will the characters go. Also the humor often helps soften the blows of violence that keep gaining energy.

It's easy to put a political and social allegory on the tale of the rich haves making the have boys continuously embarass and challenge themselves for their amusement and watching a commodity such as money which to them is disposable have so much power over those who always place themselves as morally superior and happy. Watching them sell themselves out and go primal just for bots of paper that are empty has no soul, but makes the world go around. The rich like your boss congratulate you on the hard work and act like your friend. They don't really care. It is what you do for them and what you can give then that they care about.

What also is an achievement is that when the film ends it's not so much sensationalistic, but more matter of fact. You expect a twist. Yet the film has offered so many already that I just decides to give the ending to you. But you are on your guard having gone through so many tricks that when the film is being simple and restrained you believe it has something up it's sleeve waiting for you.

 Grade: B+