Review by John M. Delia, Jr.
Based on true events that took place in December of 1985, in the northern Georgia mountains, this violent comedy, established on a drug drop gone bad, will in a funny way, get a look at what a bear can do that is exposed to its contents. Taken place in the Chattahoochee National Forest on Blood Mountain, named from the bloody battle between the Creeks and Cherokee, sets an eerie place to experience this thriller.
Trying to steal and conceal a shipment of cocaine, Andrew C. Thornton II (Matthew Rhys), former narcotics officer and convicted drug smuggler, hatches a plan to dump it all in the mountains. In attempts to recover the cargo, Bob (Isiah Whitlock Jr), Tennessee State Police Detective is attempting to track down and discover where Andrew was able to discard it all.
Learning that his shipment of cocaine was lost somewhere in the Georgia mountains, Syd Dentwood (Ray Liotta), drug boss sends his son Eddie Dentwood (Alden Ehrenreich) and employee Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) to recover all of his freight. What they experience may make them regret they ever left St. Louis.
When Sari (Keri Russell), a local nurse and mother, finds that her daughter, Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince) is not home she heads to the Secret Falls to locate her. When she arrives she finds things may not be as it all seems. While dealing with rumors of local robberies, Liz (Margo Martindale), local park ranger, is watching out for any violent activity in the area.
Director Elizabeth Banks attempts to turn an historical event into a vicious brutal experience for everyone. She manages to do this along with some amusing reactions from the bear and its victims. In an attempt to make a comedy thriller Banks does succeed and displays an awesome example of what a bear could do when provoked. The powerful special effects display the gore necessary to show what this type of creature can do, but struggles with the computer generated imagery within dark scenes.
This is one of those intense brutal comedies that you need the stomach for. The violence is within the realm of this scenario but for a comedy might be a little too much. The film does have its points where it scuffles with the computer graphics, but all in all it meets the criteria for a suspenseful funny experience.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the loosely presented storyline and the attempt to make this into a scary event.
Stars 2.5 out of 5
Additional Film Information
Cast: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Margo Martindale, Brooklynn Prince, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Christian Convery, Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell, and Ray Liotta.
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Genre: Comedy, and Thriller.
MPAA Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and gore, drug content and language throughout.
Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Release Date: February 24, 2023
Distributed By: Universal Pictures
Release In: Standard