Cocaine Bear is a film worthy of its title, and perfectly constructed to feel like the kind of cult horror movie you’d find on a dusty VHS tape somewhere in a stoner’s basement. It’s bloody and grotesque, at times quite dark, but also surprisingly endearing. Any worry that actor and filmmaker Elizabeth Banks’s third feature wouldn’t live up to its gloriously stupid title is misplaced.
The fact that Cocaine Bear is based on a true story isn’t particularly relevant beyond its initial hook. The real Cocaine Bear – a dead 175-pound male nicknamed Pablo Eskobear – was discovered in the Chattahoochee National Forest during the mid-Eighties. His body was surrounded by 40 opened plastic containers with traces of cocaine, supposedly tossed from a plane by convicted smuggler Andrew Thornton. Thornton had attempted to parachute down to Earth with his spoils, only to die in the attempt – his...
The fact that Cocaine Bear is based on a true story isn’t particularly relevant beyond its initial hook. The real Cocaine Bear – a dead 175-pound male nicknamed Pablo Eskobear – was discovered in the Chattahoochee National Forest during the mid-Eighties. His body was surrounded by 40 opened plastic containers with traces of cocaine, supposedly tossed from a plane by convicted smuggler Andrew Thornton. Thornton had attempted to parachute down to Earth with his spoils, only to die in the attempt – his...
- 2/23/2023
- by Clarisse Loughrey
- The Independent - Film
The success of any horror-comedy can be measured by the number of laughs and screams it elicits. If it coaxes them simultaneously, so much the better.
By that measure, “Cocaine Bear” is a bloody marvel, an extrapolation of a one-line “weird news” story — bear dies by stuffing itself with cocaine tossed from a smuggler’s plane — into a brilliant comedy of errors and terrors.
Cocaine itself has, of course, been responsible for the creation of countless terrible screenplays, but as an inciting incident, mixed with the jaws-and-claws of a fearsome black bear, it provides a distinguished ensemble the opportunity to be (depending on the character) brave, cowardly, heroic, venal, crafty, panicky or, ultimately, dinner.
Also Read:
‘Cocaine Bear’ Eats Drugs and Kills People in New Trailer (Video)
It’s 1985, and a drug smuggler (Matthew Rhys) tosses duffel after duffel packed with cocaine onto the Blood Mountain region of Georgia’s...
By that measure, “Cocaine Bear” is a bloody marvel, an extrapolation of a one-line “weird news” story — bear dies by stuffing itself with cocaine tossed from a smuggler’s plane — into a brilliant comedy of errors and terrors.
Cocaine itself has, of course, been responsible for the creation of countless terrible screenplays, but as an inciting incident, mixed with the jaws-and-claws of a fearsome black bear, it provides a distinguished ensemble the opportunity to be (depending on the character) brave, cowardly, heroic, venal, crafty, panicky or, ultimately, dinner.
Also Read:
‘Cocaine Bear’ Eats Drugs and Kills People in New Trailer (Video)
It’s 1985, and a drug smuggler (Matthew Rhys) tosses duffel after duffel packed with cocaine onto the Blood Mountain region of Georgia’s...
- 2/23/2023
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
We've celebrated the male performances, the heroes and villains, cinematography & production design. So let's hit Nathaniel's (c'est moi) favorite craft category costume design, as we wrap up our halfway mark festivities this week (actresses still to come). Who would I choose and who might Oscar choose if the year had ended June 30th?
Halfway Mark Beauty Break ~ Best Costume Design
(January to June theatrical releases only)
Achievements in Overall Costume Design
If I were drawing up my year end ballot right now (January to June releases) I'd pick these five films though there will inevitably be strong competition to come -- will any of them be nominated at year's end?
The Neon Demon, Erin Benach
While Benach doesn't manage anything as iconic as her scorpion jacket for Drive, few films do so you can't hold that against this film. Between the dichotomous looks of the innocent ingenue (half sexual / half...
Halfway Mark Beauty Break ~ Best Costume Design
(January to June theatrical releases only)
Achievements in Overall Costume Design
If I were drawing up my year end ballot right now (January to June releases) I'd pick these five films though there will inevitably be strong competition to come -- will any of them be nominated at year's end?
The Neon Demon, Erin Benach
While Benach doesn't manage anything as iconic as her scorpion jacket for Drive, few films do so you can't hold that against this film. Between the dichotomous looks of the innocent ingenue (half sexual / half...
- 7/5/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
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