Review of Cheap Thrills (2013) by Thee Chad S — 03 Jul 2014

There's a much like this, that I reviewed on here, called The Brass Teapot. The concept is similar, this couple, who are having economical problems, finds a teapot that dispenses money whenever they physically hurt each other.

Things start innocuously enough, before it gets darker with the teapot demanding more and more with each 'dare'. If you read my review of that movie then you know how utterly disappointed I was in that it just played it too safe with its concept.

It was so concerned about not offending anybody that they laid waste to an excellent concept. To what extremes would you go to for money and, by extension, what would you do to achieve the life you want? The Brass Teapot played it too safe and that was ultimately its downfall.

This brings us to this film. If you couldn't guess by its title, this film isn't afraid, at all, to piss of some people in order to get its story across. This movie has all of the balls that The Brass Teapot should've had and then some.

Also, surprisingly, or perhaps not, this film is also one of the best satires on reality TV game shows and the social structures that sees those with the power, and the money, humiliating those less fortunate for their own amusement.

The middle-to-lower classes have been so utterly screwed by the economic collapse of 2008, which is when these social wars really started, that people would do whatever it is they need to in order to get their family just through one more month.

Because of that you have these reality shows, there's this one currently Deal With It, where contestants are told to practically humiliate themselves for money and for their, the audience's and the hosts', amusement.

It's a sad state of affairs, but it is the way the world is at this moment. I think this film captures that struggle the lower classes face, with being laid off, being threatened with eviction, and the desperation one must feel to do something that will get you through one more day.

In many ways, it's as much a heartbreaking story, because of the truths it showcases, as it is a darkly hilarious film. At the same time, there's this pleasure that the film takes in just showcasing horrible people, Colin and Violet, forcing Craig and Vince to do these things for their own amusement, playing lifelong friends, against each other in a sick game.

Of course things start innocently enough, with Colin giving them money for doing a shot quicker than the other guy, slapping a stripper's ass or punching a bouncer. As the night wears on, however, the dares start to get more extreme, as was to be expected given the film's title.

I'm almost tempted to spoil the dares, but part of the film's fun is the reaction it's gonna cause in the audience, so why ruin the best part of the film. Let's just say the film lives up to its title in the best way possible.

It might be a little too nasty, or ugly, for some people to tolerate, and that means that the movie did its job. As much as it's a dark comedy, it's also a film that gets you thinking about some very serious issues.

I've already mentioned some of these earlier in the review, so no need to go over them again. The writing is top-notch because it manages to take some very serious themes and completely skewer them in a way that, at least to a film nerd, is gonna be massively entertaining.

Perhaps not to a broader audience, though I think there's enough here for most people to enjoy, but it's an incredibly smartly written film. The acting is also quite good. It's a film that's impeccably cast, there's no one else that could've played these four characters than the actors that played them.

They may not be among the acting "elite", but the characters suit each actor's strengths. I realize that sounds like a backhand compliment, but I really do think all the actors are incredibly talented, but they're not people that others would really think about if they were to compile a list of their favorite actors.

That's a shame really cause the acting is probably one of the film's strongest points. And this is a film with a lot of greatness in it. This might not end up being the best film I watch all year, but it's already one of my favorites.

Smart, funny, nasty, it was everything it should've been and then some.