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Review by bADVERTISING.

Up until now you’d be forgiven for saying that director Kevin Smith has largely worked within his comfort zone. His own brand of slacker-stoner comedy hasn’t really strayed too far in one direction or another since his classic, shambolic debut, Clerks.

Red State is, however, a different story. While the film is punctuated with Smith-isms (everything from the crudest of jokes to wry observations), it’s a considerably different beast to his previous offerings. Visually, it’s possibly one of his most accomplished films; a slick high-def sheen is layered over the grimy, bloody scenes and Greengrass-esque shaky-cam is used nicely to add a sense of kineticism to the action.

And there’s lots of action. The last act is practically scored with the sound of gunfire, as all hell breaks loose at a place called Cooper’s Dell. The inhabitants of this well armed ranch? The Five Points Trinity Church – a die hard Christian group clearly modelled on the Westboro Baptist Church. Helping put the fuckin’ mental in fundamental is Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), their charismatic and terrifying leader, along with his extended family including daughter Sarah (Melissa Leo) and granddaughter Cheyenne (Kerry Bishé).

When three classy teenage dudes answer an Internet ad to go and screw an older woman (Leo) in her caravan, they figure they’re in for a night of beer and awkward sex. But, before they can even get their pants off they find themselves drugged, caged and placed in front of the congregation, ready to answer for their sins. Unfortunately for them, Cooper’s idea of divine justice is a high-powered revolver.

Parks has to be commended for his portrayal of Abin Cooper. Swaying from sinister, malevolent understatement to fire and brimstone in quick, easy steps, he makes Cooper a truly nasty piece of work. Similar good work is put in later on by the ever-reliable John Goodman, as the ATF agent sent to lay siege to Cooper’s Dell once the situation escalates. His quip to fellow agent Kevin Pollack regarding the cost of the giant crucifix outside the ranch (“You mean in dollars or common sense?”) is razor sharp – written and delivered perfectly.

Once the ATF agents arrive and the bullets start flying though, the film feels like it veers off course. Smith has answered the other critics who accuse Red State of being ‘confused’ by asking ‘how can it be confused if it turned out how I wanted?’ He’s got a point, but that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t feel messy. It seems to swing wildly from high-school comedy to grungy horror to action without care. Smith does well with these elements in isolation, but they don’t quite meld together.

That said, you can’t knock Smith for his ambition or accuse him of not pushing his boundaries. For a director who usually makes films that are undeniably Kevin Smith films, Red State feels completely different. For that, it’s at least worth checking out.

Review by Lauren Thomas.

This film, by Australian director Sam Voutas, centres on a dimwitted and kind-hearted Chinese cab driver, Shunzi. Showing him losing his job, his wife and moving back in with his parents all in the same day, he attempts to gain a fortune by setting up a shop selling sex toys in Beijing and at first all is well. We think Shunzi (and his bimbo assistant that he picked up in a supermarket) are going to be saved from the vile grip of a businessman that is intent on breaking his legs if the shop doesn’t succeed. But alas no, it isn’t to be!

The local neighbourhood watchman busts the shop and finds they don’t have a permit to sell such outrageous products. Unless something extraordinary happens we can pretty much guess that something terrible will happen to this pair of entrepreneurs. I’m assuming that you can tell that something does indeed happen?!

Red Light Revolution could better be described as ‘slightly humorous’ as opposed to a comedy. It may be that the humour went completely over my head, it could be that the comedy is lost in translation. Or it could be that the film isn’t that funny in the first place.

I don’t mean to sound too harsh because this film is by no means a complete waste of time. The concept itself is very good and it draws on some important values like community spirit and camaraderie. The breakdown of a marriage and falling on hard times are both topics we can all relate to.

However the plot isn’t developed nearly enough and I was left wishing that they had spent a little more time really developing the characters and plotline. If they had, this film had potential. Unfortunately it falls at the first few hurdles.