Red State: I know this is being marketed as a supernatural horror movie, but it’s most certainly not. It’s more a strange black comedy about religious extemism, government bureaucracy, inaction and overreaction, with nary a wit of supernatural anything to behold. This is the most recent offering from director Kevin Smith and feels very much like his previous “Dogma“ in some respects, particularly its heavy-handedness in its depiction of religion. Three high school boys set up an sexual assignation with a woman over the internet (Oscar winner Melissa Leo), yet when they arrive, they soon find themselves captives of a fringe church led by pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks) and his extended family (a la Fred Phelps) of religious gun nuts who are against a whole litany of “sinners”. This draws out the involvement of the local ATF field office led by Agent Keenan (played by John Goodman). Bullets fly as general chaos and mayhem ensues, peppered sporadically with extended dialogue sequences. Gory, sure (lots of head shots and upper body shots; no one gets shot in the leg here), but hardly horrific. Also low on insight, high on the absurd, and most of the characters are underdeveloped caricatures. I enjoyed it for the comedic aspect and I think Parks and Goodman are great, but this is hardly Smith’s best outing thus far. It almost feels like more of a Tarantino flick. Woodchuck sez, “Not for all tastes.”
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