In the wake of the controversial Dogma (USA - 1999), a satire on the Catholic Church and faith based on the true events of the 1993 siege of Waco, Kevin Smith (Tusk, Yoga Hosers) writes and directs the horror film Red State, once again proposing to the audience the deviant view of another sect namely the one led by the religious Fred Phelps, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for its extreme ideologies (in particular, those against homosexuality). In Red State (USA - 2011), Fred Phelps is named Abin Cooper and is played by an extraordinary Michael Parks.
Kevin Smith thus brings devastating horror to the stage by drawing on reality (the sects). In Red State in fact are embedded in part of the ideologies of Phelps and his followers, in a context that, in addition to being steeped in madness, proves to be a generating fulcrum of verbal and physical violence. Red State, an unbreakable mirror of terrifying real events, also highlights the power wielded by cult leaders, magnetic figures capable of manipulating large numbers of followers. Here in Smith's film, grooming, kidnapping, intimidation, bigotry, violence and death are the stages of the excesses dictated by religious fanaticism.
Plot: Three friends (Kyle Gallner, Michael Angarano, and Nicholas Braun) contact a prostitute (Melissa Leo) on the Internet to spend a red-light night with her. For the boys, however, the date will turn out to be an unexpected and dangerous trap. The woman is actually a member of the cult of Pastor Cooper (Michael Parks), a religious fanatic determined to cleanse society of evil by eliminating sinners.
The first part is devoted to the introduction of the three carefree teenagers who are then thrown into an asphyxiating and morbid context the moment they end up in the hands of the insane followers ready to give rise to a heinous ceremony. This situation confronts the victims' states of anxiety and terror with the coldness of the cult members who, blinded by their beliefs, have lost all sense of mercy and feeling of humanity.
The story turns out to be linear and always engaging even when the film changes register by slipping into the action genre. In fact, the finale gives interminable minutes of gunfights between cult members and the police. Violence that begets more violence and death that begets more death in a peculiar and unmissable film.
The cast includes Michael Parks, Kyle Gallner, Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Deborah Aquila, Ronnie Connell, Alexa Nikolas, Kaylee DeFer, Dana, Anna Gunn, and John Lacy.
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The catalog Midnight Factory is also embellished with Red State (USA - 2011), Kevin Smith's horror film. The label offers it in limited edition DVD and Blu-Ray formats, both of which come with a collector's booklet in which, in addition to a review of the film, there is info on the director and, in particular, his film preferences and his opinion on God.
As always, the Blu-ray edition offered by Midnight Factory is impeccable, featuring a neat hardback slipcase and inviting amaray with interior artwork. Perfect audio and video compartments.
Technical data Blu-ray:
Duration: 88 min
Format: 1080p; 1.1:85
Audio: Italian - 5.1 DTS HD master audio; English - 5.1 DTS HD master audio
Subtitles: Italian
Extras: Trailer
