Released: August 2020
Director: Jay Baruchel
Run Time: 81 Minutes
Not Rated
Distributor: Shudder/RLJE Films
Genre: Horror
Cast:
Jesse Williams: Todd
Jordana Brewster: Kathy
Jay Baruchel: Ezra
Simon Northwood: The Man
Niamh Wilson: Aurora
One of the many things I love about horror movies is that they are often used as a kind of a dark reflection of our society and how we function as a society. Most horror movies have some kind of social commentary that’s interwoven throughout the film. Sometimes it’s more brazen and in-your-face with movies like Cannibal Holocaust or I Spit on Your Grave. Other times, it tends to be more subtle and gets under your skin with classics like Frankenstein. But there also times when some of these movies can be very self-aware and self-deprecating. Movies like Cabin in the Woods and Evil Dead II not only celebrate the genre, but they also make fun of the genre’s conventions and audience expectations at the same time. There’s nothing like a little jab to get you to let your guard down before scaring you silly. That said, there are a lot of horror movies out there that really don’t have a lot to say outside of grossing you out with over-the-top gore and shocking moments. Slasher movies in particular usually don’t have anything to offer outside of murdering a bunch of useless and horny teenagers. There’s nothing really wrong with that if that’s what you want in a horror movie. I will admit that sometimes, I’ll go in for that. Every once in a while, however, you come across a horror movie that actually has some important observations to make, especially in these trying times. Random Acts of Violence is one of those movies.
Random Acts of Violence follows comic-book writer Todd as he embarks on a road trip with his girlfriend Kathy alongside friends Ezra and Aurora. The reason? Todd has suddenly developed writer’s block so he can’t find an ending to his current run of Slasherman comics. His comic-book protagonist was inspired by the infamous I-90 serial killer(in the film), who was responsible for hundreds of deaths and disappearances along the I-90 corridor. Todd and company decide to take a road trip to a comic-book convention in the hopes that Todd could be inspired by the places they visit. Little do they know that someone has been reading Todd’s comics and begun to kill and stage their victims in the exact same manner that he had shown in his comics. It’s no secret that the public at large, especially here in the United States, has a bizarre fascination with serial killers and mass murderers, fictional or other-wise. We’ve been fascinated with these people ever since Jack the Ripper terrorized London in the 1800s. Normally, I wouldn’t give the story in a slasher film a second thought, but Random Acts of Violence does something a little different. On the surface, it seems like your typical brutal slasher flick, but there’s quite a bit more going on here. We, as a society are fascinated with some of the darker aspects of human nature and this film specifically points that out. Not only that, the film also has something to say about placing the blame for these killings. For decades, the public at large has blamed rock ‘n roll music, television, comic books, and video games for the ills of society despite the complete lack of evidence connecting the two. The film also points out the fact that while we recognize serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy, what about their victims? It’s an outstanding observation, because it doesn’t just apply to real-life, but also the film world as well. Can anybody name the victims of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, or Leatherface?
Random Acts of Violence being a slasher film at its core, you would expect there to be some knarly kills. Yes…and no. While some kills are shown on screen, others aren’t, and that’s going to bother some people. That said, the film doesn’t shy away from the aftermath, especially when it comes to the film’s first kills. The first attack on a minivan with a group of stoners was particularly vicious. While it cuts away after the guy gets stabbed to death, Todd and company drive by the crime scene and see how the bodies were posed. It’s an incredibly gruesome image, and it stands out, because things like this have happened, and the characters response to it is pretty realistic. The kills in this film aren’t necessarily elaborate, but they’re fast and hard-hitting. That’s one of the things I love about this movie: The effects and gore are all done practically. I also love the visual aesthetic of this film. The colors are surprisingly vibrant to the point of over-saturation giving the film a pitched fever-dream feel to it. There are also moments that are completely animated, which are absolutely stunning to look at. The animation is fantastic. This movie is beautiful to look at it, despite its grim and nihilistic nature.
I have to give credit where it is truly due. I wouldn’t have expected a movie this brutal from somebody like Jay Baruchel. Who is Jay Baruchel? He’s the guy who voiced Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon films and played the nerdy apprentice to Nicolas Cage’s sorcerer from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. He’s always had this kind of goofy dead-pan sense of humor that’s made him one of my favorite actors in recent years. I had no idea that he was such a huge fan of horror. You can definitely tell that he’s a fan because of how this movie was made. Not only did he have a part in the movie, he also directed it. It’s his second directorial effort and it’s a doozy. He absolutely has an eye for detail that you don’t get from people who aren’t fans of the genre. The acting in this film is pretty good., but I don’t think anybody’s going to win any Oscars for this. Jay plays Ezra, Todd’s friend. Jesse Williams plays Todd, the comic-book writer while Jordana Brewster plays his girlfriend, Kathy. Niamh Wilson plays Aurora, the artist. While the acting’s pretty decent, we aren’t given enough time to flesh out these characters a whole lot. Oddly enough, the stand-out here is Simon Northwood as the film’s villain. This guy does a fantastic job playing a total psychopath. At 6’2″, Simon cuts an imposing figure and when he comes after you, it’s pretty scary. He’s known more for his stunt-work than acting, but that’s ok. He’s got quite a list of things that he’s done.
While there are a couple of issues with this movie, I have to say that it’s nitpicking at best. You already know if this movie’s going to be for you or not. Truthfully, I had to watch this movie twice before I started writing this review. I couldn’t stop thinking about it after watching it the first time, and that rarely happens to me after watching a slasher flick. Usually, those are just one and done, and I move on to the next one. But there was something about Random Acts of Violence that really stuck with me, even through my second viewing. This is a much smarter movie than a lot of people are going to give it credit for and that’s because of Jay Baruchel’s direction and writing. First time through, I thought the movie was just plain bizarre, but having seen it a second time, I love the hell out of it. Yeah, it’s brutal and grim-dark, but at the same time, it’s one of the most beautifully shot indie movies that I’ve seen in a long time. The movie apparently had issues finding a distributor over the last couple of years, but found one by way of Shudder and RLJE Entertainment. Considering everything that’s been happening in the last few months, the arrival of Random Acts of Violence on home video is nothing short of timely. It’s a movie that forces the audience to look at their own obsession with real-life crime and violence, and how art imitates life imitating art, but it doesn’t really give an answer to that question itself. The film is actually smart enough to let the audience come to their own conclusion. Like the film, I’m not going to tip my hat in either direction. That’ll be up to you. If all you want is a brutal slasher flick, then this movie will definitely satisfy in that regard. If you’re looking for a little bit more, than I would still suggest checking it out, because it’s definitely willing to have a conversation about certain issues.
My Final Recommendation: 8.5/10