Rating of
2.5/4
"Cold In July" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 11/19/14
A father and husband shoots dead a home invader but comes to fear for his family's safety when the man's father arrives in town and threatens revenge. Cold In July is set in 1989 although for the life of me I couldn't figure out why, exactly. It mainly just gives the makers an excuse to include a contrived and intrusive 80's style sound track and some questionable fashions in the style of Don Johnson's amusingly over the top pig farming private eye. The opening act does in fact feel like a rather trashy 80's thriller, because of which I girded my loins to endure another cheesy stalker film in the vein of a cheap rip off of Cape fear. Thankfully half an hour in, the plot throws an unexpected curve ball that makes everything a lot more interesting and sets the scene for a mismatched buddy thriller with exploitation overtones in a similar vein to old Walter Hill movies. The plot is a little lacking in narrative focus and motivations seem a little implausible in places but the watchable cast keep things interesting for the duration. Not quite knowing or trashy enough to be considered a Tarantino style homage nor substantial enough to be a satisfying revenge thriller, Cold In July falls somewhat between two stools, but it's an entertaining enough diversion if you're in the mood for something not too demanding on the attention.
