Full disclosure: I smoked half a roach of weed decades ago, coughed for ten minutes and never went back.
Apparently, many millions (zillions?) more soon became forever friends of the joint.
Despite marijuana becoming legalized in many jurisdictions around the planet in recent years, there are some nasty backstories that must be shared: murder most foul, deceit, larceny and a few illicit love affairs adding spice to the narrative mix.
Unsolved murders during the reign of the 1800s Gunter clan fuels the narrative mix as a present-day film company tries to recreate—perhaps solve—those decades-old atrocities. The former in the name of commerce and “recreation”, the latter in the name of box office success—at last, following several cinematic flops.
To add verisimilitude to the poorly acted drama, this 21st century update is being shot on the same terrain as the original crimes.
What could go wrong?
Let’s begin at the beginning.
Inciting incident? (accompanied a funky by banjo in Alabamy…) A crop of weed promises to move pig farmers into the delirious heights of drug purveyors so long ago. [cue murders most foul]
Many centuries later, the sheriff of Red Eye (you can’t make these things up), consents to an on-camera interview about the turf-war massacre in 2014. [cue the blood and emptied-out guts] (Famous murderer quote: “I guess I just like killing to much…” so apropos of recent murders in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans.)
Many, many years later, masked and bewigged men struggle to set things right. Aided and assisted by an up-to-date lawyer.
Soon, more murder and mayhem comes into play on the movie set: the often-heard, scene-ending cry, “cut” takes on diabolical meaning.
Happily, the whiskey-loving producer (who likely endured/penned one bounced cheque too many) comes back from the proverbial grave to inspire his director to finish the project—one way or the other!
Now, with no budget for bullets (er, hello there Chris Rock!), the deadly “troops” arm themselves with all manner of tools that do not require a trigger.
Then, onto “the Gunters’ last stand”! (see brothers, above)
So how to judge a film that exalts a wee bit of hash (what’s the harm), murders most brutal (well, of course they deserved it anyway) and a script (Ray Spivey), that ought to have died alongside Rufus and or Dufus, lo those many years ago?
Just come long for the ride, light up a roach, inhale deeply, then wonder what all of the fuss is about! JWR