An excellent film with a sense of reality and a Hitchcockian use of the mundane which leads into what is a truly unsettling act.
Red, White and Blue (Simon Rumley) follows a young women, Erica (Amanda Fuller), who uses her promiscuity as revenge. It also follows a young man, Franki (Marc Senter),in a band whose mother has cancer, and a military veteran, Nate (Noah Taylor),who offers kindness to Erica. After Erica crosses Franki she meets Nate who begins to take her away from her promiscuous lifestyle, when Franki receives terrible news, his and Ericas paths cross again, leading into the final act.
The film is brilliant in its deception of the audience, driving home a feeling that the kindness of strangers exists and that no matter how terrible your life there is a way out, it is almost hopeful, the second act rips that thought away and leaves you remembering one simple thing, don’t mess with strangers. The opening sequences are shot with a distance an almost voyeuristic watching of Erica as she goes about sleeping with a number of men. She is then found by Nate who does not take advantage of her, but gets her a job and looks after her. Franki’s story is shot closer, making you feel apart of his life, and the personal tragedies he is feeling, the final act which follows Nate is shot up so close it feels awkward, and heightens the unsettling feeling that will leave you fidgeting in your seat. Whilst some of the twists seem fairly obvious, it is not the twist which makes this film, it is the manner in which it switches from mundane to horror in moments.
The cast do a good job, they play their parts and convey the emotion required. Where the casting is truly brilliant is that these are actors and actresses who are believable people, Fuller is an attractive women, but she is attractive in a real way, as if you could meet this person, the other’s all have the physical imperfection that aids in the audiences involvement, these are not your classically attractive made-up Hollywood stars that often distance an audience.
In all Red, White and Blue is a film which should be seen by anyone who wants a shocking thriller which will genuinely engage its viewer and leave them with appropriately sweaty palms. It definitely gains from its indie status, and the feeling of reality it brings will truly unsettle its audience.
Red, White and Blue is released 10th of October 2011.
