Vincent Grashaw shocks and delivers with his recent release Coldwater, a slow yet intense story of a corrupt juvenile camp that inevitably ends in devastation.
The hellish world that Grashaw creates is cut off from reality; it generates an unknown but completely plausible truth that is reminiscent of the very real Road to Guantanamo. However, unlike the unfairly treated prisoners of Guantanamo, the characters in Coldwater are sent by family members as a form of punishment.
Yet what was meant to be a boot camp style facility turns out to be a corrupt torture camp; as the scenes go on, the games played by the alcoholic and unhinged ex-colonel Frank Reichert (James C. Burns) become more and more sadistic.
The story focuses on Brad Lunders (P.J. Boudousqué). As the reason for his attendance of the camp unfolds, Brad’s place and status amongst the fellow juveniles shifts and shapes his relationships. P.J.’s performance is perfect for the role, he remains sullen and affected by his past; a completely believable character that adds to the overall atmosphere of the story.
Grashaw’s depiction of rebellion and human reaction is precise and accurate and the relationships that develop throughout the film represent the inner and outer struggle that occurs for all of the prisoners. It is these elements that make the film an uneasy and compelling watch, with an ending that will leave you in shock. Coldwater is not a light watch, but a completely convincing one.
