MovieChat Forums > Cold in July (2014) Discussion > What a strange little genre-bending gem ...

What a strange little genre-bending gem of a flick

posted 10 years ago by wrongview
8 replies | jump to latest

You never really quite can tell where this movie's going because of how many twists and turns and red herrings it uses before completely doing a 90 degree turn and heading off into whatthefvcksville population 3. I don't know if it will be everyone's cup of tea, but I certainly found it oddly appealing albeit a tad of a slow burn, but if you're willing to be patient and you enjoy not knowing what's going to show up as you go around the bend, well then my friend, you're in for a helluva treat with Cold in July.

[–] BettyX 10 years ago

Is it a 5 star movie, no. A great movie, no....but it is just quirky enough too work & entertain. Don Johnson was a stand out in this & the soundtrack was perfect for it. Like this movie a lot.

[–] wrongview 10 years ago

Don Johnson and Sam Shepard will never let you down. This film was directed as though and scored as though it was an 80's b-movie grindhouse flick, but the acting made you feel like you were watching a Coen Brothers Fargo type of film. It really was a hodge-podge of interesting and quirky themes. Have to agree with you Betty. Glad you enjoyed it!

[–] henrimaine 10 years ago

Genre-bending movie - no. The movie had some unexpected plot twists but it always remained within the same genre (crime thriller, or whatever we call it).

[–] DanaShelbyChancey 10 years ago

This is one of those too-rare finds, a cable movie that sounds interesting but is a lot better than the 2 sentence plot synopsis on the TV guide.

I have a fantasy of owning a small movie theater in a big city, and playing a hodgepodge of obscure titles. I felt as if I played this movie, and word got around, it would be a big hidden hit.

[–] wrongview 10 years ago

Agreed Dana! In fact, when I was in college I used to do something similar to what you're talking about. I had a very expensive video projector and I would load up a PA system and that projector and play odd midnight movies/grindhouse flicks/cult classics against the outside of one of the walls of the college at 12:00 am on the dot every thursday night for two years and didn't charge anything. I just wanted to share my love of film with others. I made a lot of great friends(some I still keep in touch with to this very day) and turned a lot of people on to weird movies like Jodorowsky's El Topo, and this movie Cold in July would've easily made the cut for me to project were I still doing it, now I've moved on from that and DJ with turntables and a video projector. Instead of having a fantasy about owning a small theater, why don't you just buy a really nice video projector and host a film club in your town? Video projectors are far cheaper now than they used to be, so I'd say give it a shot! 

[–] DanaShelbyChancey 10 years ago

That sounds so wonderful! Sounds like that was a few years ago. You know these days, I am sure I would play something that would offend someone.

What you said, about Don Johnson & Sam Shepard will never let you down, that was the decision-maker for me to even watch Cold In July. I liked the sound of the synopsis, but there was so much more to the movie than "a man shoots an intruder in his home, and the man's father comes back for revenge".

I saw the cast, and thought, I'm giving this a chance.

In my movie theater fantasy, my theater is maybe 150 seats. It looks disreputable, but it is clean and attended by faithful cinephiles and sporadic viewers. I charge $5 admission no matter what the show is, single or double feature, and I sell popcorn and candy for only a little more than the drugstore charges.

It's a nice fantasy,

[–] marno76 9 years ago

Its exactly also my same dream! I want to own a movie theatre and run it my way!!!

[–] ohmemercylard-58-17610 9 years ago

I even make lists of quirky double features I'd like to show together, stuff ya generally wouldn't think would link up but does. Oh, and it's cool to bring your own food and drink if ya clean up after yourself.