Lucas Pavetto, already known for the previous The Perfect Husband, directs Alcoholic (USA, Italy - 2017), a thriller shot entirely in the USA with an all-Italian production (Dea Film). Supported by a deeply dramatic basis, this thriller with appreciated horror chimes (the latter related to the protagonist's hallucinations) incorporates the burning theme of alcoholism.
The story of Alcoholic (aka Alcoholist) focuses on Daniel (Bret Roberts), an alcoholic who has, as his only goal in life, to kill his neighbor (Bill Moseley). Claire (Gabriella Wright), a worker at an AA center, will try to pull him out of the tunnel of alcoholism through her rehabilitation program. However, Daniel already manifests the damage caused by alcohol abuse and does not seem to be able to cope with withdrawal.
Films about alcoholism, as well as those about drugs, reflect what are some of the real horrors of our society. Like a puppet, the protagonist of Alcoholic allows himself to be maneuvered by his vice that has stolen his soul and clouded his mind, turning him into a flesh wrapper who seeks in alcohol the way to drown his pain and the shortcut to death. In this sense, Pavetto's film is very reminiscent of Away from Las Vegas (1995) by Mike Figgis, from which it then deviates by adding intriguing elements to the story such as horror hallucinations, the desire for revenge and a figure, that of Claire (Gabriella Wright), who is very ambiguous.
By Alcoholic Striking, in addition to the good direction and screenplay (by Lucas Pavetto and Massimo Vavassori), is the perfect performance of Bret Roberts, who is completely immersed in a desperate character and whose extraordinary performance brings to the audience's attention the damage (psychological, physical, familial and social) caused by alcohol abuse. Amid irascibility, despair, hesitation, and instability, Daniel gives proof that he is a person incapable of appeasing his inner struggle as well as taking charge of his life, letting himself be carried along by the current of his sad fate. His house, a dark, unkempt and untidy location, reflects the inner state of the man who inhabits it.
Alcoholic sheds light on the subject of alcoholism by involving in the story not only those who experience firsthand the hell caused by alcohol but also highlights the repercussions that this vice exerts on the people around the subject.
Well crafted, the film is rooted in suffering and makes inner drama the calling card for self-destruction.
In the cast: Bret Roberts (The Perfect Husband), Gabriella Wright, Tania Bambaci, Bill Moseley, John Robinson, and Carl Wharton. Bill Moseley (The House of 1,000 Bodies, The House of the Devil) certainly stands out among the actors.
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Distributed by CG Entertainment, Alcoholic is available for home video as of February 6, 2018.
The DVD edition (with amaray and interior artwork) offers Italian subtitles and audio track in both Italian and English (Dolby Digital 5.1). The rich extra compartment embraces: Backstage; Alternative ending; Deleted scene: Basketball Scene; Deleted scene: Monologue; Trailer.
DVD EDITION.:
VIDEO: 16/9 2.35:1
LENGTH: 103′
AUDIO: Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Original (English) Dolby Digital 5.1
SUBTITLES: Italian, Italian for the Deaf.
EXTRA: Backstage, Alternative ending, Deleted scene: Basketball Scene, Deleted scene: Monologue, Trailer.