Red State is Kevin Smith's newest film, and his first horror film. It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, before getting a very odd release, that involved many different release dates on many different forms. It was written and directed by Kevin Smith, and stars Michael Parks, John Goodman, Michael Angarano, Melissa Leo, Kerry Bishe, Nicholas Braun, and Kyle Gallner.
Kevin Smith is my favorite director of all time. Clerks, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Hell, I even liked Jersey Girl and Mallrats. Most people think that he started to slip with Zack and Miri Make A Porno, and I'd have to agree. That film was merely okay, nothing special. And then he made Cop Out. An odd film, and certainly not a good one. An interesting thing I've noted about the film though is that people that love Kevin Smith hate the film, and people who don't know who Kevin Smith is loved it. Cop Out is his worst film, because it's not very funny, it tries to alter the basic film formula for the sake of comedy, and screws up the film entirely. Overall, it was a below average script that Kevin Smith should've stayed away from.
Now, we have Red State. It's not as bad as Cop Out, I certainly enjoyed it more, but it's much more perplexing. I have many a great problems with Red State, and I'm going to tell you them.
1. This isn't a horror, it's a comedy with elements of horror. Kevin Smith constantly stated that this was not his typical film. It would be horror, and a damn good one at that. That's why nobody bought it at Sundance, and Smith had to buy it himself, cause it was too good for normal studios (in case you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic). However, this film proves that Kevin can only write comedy. Are there scary scenes? Yes, there's a few, and they certainly are scary. But overall, this film is a comedy. But even in the horror, I feel like there is comedy to be found in that. Some of Michael Parks scary scenes involve him playing with kids, and joyfully singing hymns, the latter in particular being quite funny. Also, many characters do funny things. A sheriff (Stephen Root), right after killing a teenager, falls down on his way to the car, in a funny moment. And it is funny! That's the thing, Kevin Smith can't write a straight up horror, because at his heart, he's a comedy writer! Some directors loved the film, including Richard Kelly, who said, "I have never seen a filmmaker reinvent himself the way you just have." (http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2010/12/29/neil-gaiman-and-more-inspired-by-advance-screening-of-kevin-smiths-red-state) This isn't a reinventing, this is a filmmaker's desperate attempts to stay relevant.
2. The lack of a clear protagonist. The film starts out with these three teenagers, and we believe one of them (Michael Angarano) is the protagonist. However, by the time they're captured, the protagonist has become another one of the kids (Kyle Gallner). For a little while, it seems that the sheriff (Stephen Root) is the protagonist, before the film attempts to settle on John Goodman's character, ATF Special Agent Keenan, as the protagonist. However, the film also tries to return to Kyle Gallner as the protagonist for a short while. I was reminded of the Phantom Menace, as that film also didn't have a clear protagonist. Without a protagonist, we have no character to identify with, and thus, no way to connect to the film. Considering how this is supposed to be a horror film, it's extremely important that we identify with the characters, because we then connect with them, and don't want them to die, thus making the film horrifying when they do die. Once again, just like Cop Out, Kevin is trying to alter the basic film formula, but I feel like he's doing it here for the hipster crowd, simply because they might find the basic film formula "too mainstream."
3. Despite frequently saying his characters are essentially the Westboro Baptist Church, in the film he specifically points out how these people, the Five Points Church, are much more worse then the Westboro Baptist Church. Remember, this is the guy who counter protested the Westboro Baptist Church. They would protest something, and Kevin Smith would show up to counter-protest them (in my opinion, the only good form of protesting: counter protesting the Westboro Baptist Church). So, you'd imagine he has no fear of them. And yet, here he is, attempting to protect himself from a slander/libel charge from the Westboro Baptist Church. Come on Kevin, grow a pair. You once made a film where Chris Rock was a black apostle, Salma Hayek, a stripping muse, and Alanis Mourisette was God! I think you can live with a bit of controversy.
4. The ending, when compared to the original ending. I'm not gonna spoil the ending of this film, but I will spoil the original ending. Basically, the rapture happens. Everyone dies, except for John Goodman's character. He sees an angel with a sword, sees says "shh," flies away, and the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse descend on the scene. THAT, would've had made me forgiven the film for all of its misfortunes. However, an interesting idea would be instead of having some random angel there, how about instead, Smith put God there, played by Alanis Mourissette? Make this a sort of spiritual sequel to Dogma. That would've been genius.
Kevin Smith needs to stick to comedy, particularly the View Askewinverse. What we need is a Clerks 3, to see Jay and Silent Bob again. We need to return to New Jersey, the Quick Stop, Mooby's. That is Kevin Smith's best stuff, and it's what makes him work. I feel like he's angry at the View Askewinverse, because that's how he made his career, but it never made him extremely famous. Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen come along doing the same thing, and they became extremely famous for it. I feel like Kevin hates this type of comedy, because it didn't make him famous, when it did to other people. And it's a damn shame it didn't, because he is genuinely talented.
The fans love you Kevin, including me. Like I already mentioned, you're my favorite filmmaker. I know you want to make Hit Somebody, but how about scrapping it, and making something for us fans? Hell, don't scrap it, but put it in the View Askewinverse. We'd love you forever. Why do you need fame when you've got us? We come to your Q&A's, we buy all your stuff, we see your movies, and listen to SModcast. We love you, and don't forget it. If you keep going down this path, we might not be able to follow you.
Overall, I give this film a 6/10. After a hectic release starting in January and going to October of 2011, it's now on DVD, as well as OnDemand and iTunes. Check it out if you're interested.
P.S. Kevin, I'll be at the Vogue Theatre on December 7. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to ask you about this.
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