Cold in July | Movie Review

Michael C. Hall knows how to play a killer. After 8 seasons as the titular sociopath in Dexter, Hall has calm nuance down to its finer details. In Cold in July, he once again portrays a family man who has snuffed another out of existence. Only this time, it was an accident committed by a coward of a man.

Set in a late 80’s backdrop, complete with a mullet and Texas-redneck mustache, Hall stars as Richard Dane. Late one night, Richard stumbles across an intruder in his home and through an almost comical series of events, accidentally shoots him point-blank in his living room.

Horribly distraught and unnerved by his actions, Richard has a hard time accepting his newfound role of small-town hero. Townsfolk commend him and the police congratulate him. Even his wife Ann (Vinessa Shaw) has readily accepted that Richard has simply done what was needed and the time has come to replace that bloody couch. Apparently Richard is the only one involved who realizes or cares that this man is forever dead.

The tension ramps up when the victim’s father, Russel (Sam Shepard, darker than ever with a penchant for the dramatic), comes to town. Seeking vengeance for his son’s death, Russel begins stalking Richard ‘Cape Fear’ style until things begin to steamroll and the plot more than makes a few adjustments.

This is where I have to digress. Based on the Joe Lansdale novel, Cold in July is a pulpy noir film and like most noir films, this does not go nearly as expected. The plot takes several twists and turns and what the film began as, is not nearly how it will end. Throughout the film, director Jim Mickle treats us to various additives such as: dirty cops, the Dixie mafia, snuff porn, and even a wild-eyed badass cowboy of a performance from the one-and-only Don Johnson. It is best to walk into this film with as little knowledge as possible, just know the plot works and it works mostly due to the talented character actors involved.

What I will tell you is Michael C. Hall is not simply playing another version of Dexter here. His Richard is a man who ultimately wants to do the right thing for all involved. He just lacks the everyday common sense to know exactly what that is. Throughout the film, Hall confronts the turns of the plot like screws to a fitting and by the end has changed into the character he wished he was at the beginning. It is an interesting take on a character of this sort, the Dudley-Do-Right finally becoming the hero in silence that everyone has been touting him as for the duration of the film.

Why Mickle decided to use the late 80’s as his focal point is anyone’s guess, though it does ultimately work. It does little to enhance the film, but those little nostalgic beats (bag phones, VHS tapes, gaudy…everything) do elicit a smile right when the dark storyline desperately needs it…especially with the retro 80’s John Carpenter-inspired score pushing the plot along.

With strong character work from Hall, Shepard and Johnson; Cold in July is a fun little noir film that is worth spending the time with on a rainy night. The twists and turns propel the film from a seemingly predictable stalker film, into something deeper and seedier than the previews will lead you to believe.

If $10 is the full price of admission, Cold in July is worth $6

 

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider