Cold in July Review: The Glory Days of Action Films Return

Today’s action films have fallen in love with special effects and sequels; gone are the days of dark, gritty action pieces, powered by gripping drama and strong performances.

Jim Mickle’s “Cold in July” however reminds us of those glory days.

Based on an Joe R. Lansdale novel of the same name, “Cold in July” borrows elements from the great action films of yesteryear with a hypnotic synth score that echoes John Carpenter (someone who is even thanked in the closing credits) films and anchored by great performances from its trio of stars, Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson.

Simply put, “Cold in July” is a time capsule of everything that made ’80s actioners resonate with audiences.

The film takes place in East Texas, 1989. Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall) and his wife Vanessa are awoken by a sound in the house- they suspect it is a burglar. Dane trembles as he loads his gun and goes to check on the noise and his suspicions are confirmed, fearing for his safety he shoots the burglar dead. The police say that the burglar’s identity is that of Fredrick Russell, a low-life who had it coming. “Sometime the good guy wins,” he is told, yet, he does not feel like he has won. Shaking off the effects of killing a man, Dane drives by the funeral of Fredrick and is met by Russell’s father Ben (Sam Shepard). Dane feeling threatened by Ben, goes to the police who set a trap to capture him. Using the Dane family as bait, the police stake out the house and wait for Ben. This plan is thwarted when Russell kills one of the officers in the house and escapes, scaring Dane and his family even more.

Dane is happy to get a phone call from the police that authorities have picked up Russell, and all he has to do to put this whole ordeal behind him is sign some papers: case closed, right? Wrong.

When filling out his paperwork, Dane sees a wanted poster for one Fredrick Russell, and it is not the man he killed. Growing increasingly suspicious and curious about the man he killed, Dane tails the police who have sedated Fredrick’s father and left him on the railroad to die. Dane saves Ben and after the two dig up Frederick’s grave and realize that is not him, Ben brings an old war buddy Jim Bob (Don Johnson) into the mix. The three must tread a road of mystery and evil to uncover where the real Fredrick really is.

“Cold in July” thrives thanks in part to its sheer unpredictability. As soon as you believe you have a firm grasp of what is going to transpire the film debunks those ideas, keeping you firmly intrigued in the ensuing drama. Director Jim Mickle pays homage to many of the great 80s action films by providing the audience with brand of action film you just do not see anymore; focusing primarily on the drama and performances and a synth score that emulates films like “The Thing” and “Assault on Precinct 13.”

Michael C. Hall’s performance is magnetic as Richard Dane. Dane is not the cold and calculated killer Dexter Morgan was, the character Hall played for eight years on the show “Dexter.” Hall’s ability to switch gears is impressive, playing a character that must find the strength and courage, someone who actually feels the emotional tremors of killing a man is fun to watch. Sam Shepard and Don Johnson are also highlights of the film. Hall, Shepard, and Johnson are an acting big three, mirroring the basketball’s Miami Heat, each providing something unique that makes the film so much better. Shepard’s Ben Russell as first glance appears to be the typical ex-con with an appetite for revenge, as the film progresses and changes pace we learn more about his character. The nuances Shepard brings to Ben keeps your eyes glued to the screen and so does Don Johnson’s Jim Bob who has swagger that only Johnson could bring to life.

One knock on the film will have to be its second act. Flat compared to the rest of the film, it lacks the literal bangs that open and close the film’s other sections.

While “Cold in July” does not have the computer-generated transforming cars or an impending alien invasion of its competition, but what it does have is a director who is hell bent on keeping the memory of the great 80s films alive by crafting an action thriller that keeps you attention on the story and its characters.

“Cold in July” opens in theaters and will be available on VOD May 23

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