Red Pill

There aren't dead spaces in this film. The viewer is either scared or anticipating feeling scared. The film begins with the illusion of comfort. We see aerial shots of a beautiful Virginia countryside in the fall season. The comfort turns to discomfort as we face death, desperation, and confusion with the characters. I don't want to tell you the story. I want to tell you the significance of this film. I understand that fans of Jordan Peele's "Get Out" will venture to see this film. But keep in mind that this is a flick for horror fans but much more. Red Pill brings in contemporary and historical themes including White women and Black women with issues of betrayal, Trumpism, and Black solidarity, while pushing in glimpses of enslavement of Africans. From 1619, there has been red blood in the Virginia soil from enslaved Africans. How fitting that the film connects horror with realistic fiction.

I'm not a fan of horror films; there's enough horror in the world and this genre causes me so much anxiety. I watched Red Pill because I am such a Pinkins fan. It stunned me that this film was something of a cross between a great art house film and a scary but rivating commentary on the extremes of racism in America. What I found most interesting were the stretches of dialog that addressed so many realities of that racism. I have to applaud, as well, the reversal of roles, turning the white guy into the icky, misogynistic product of white supremacy. Nothing could be clearer on the whole history of this country than this film. And, yes, it was scary af! This is what a film by a Black writer/director can be when there are no whites to put their I-know-better-than-you-how-to-tell-your-story spin on it. Please, let us see more films by Black writers, directors, and producers.

I'll start by saying I immediately wanted to watch this film again!

Loved the casting - I thought the actors were excellent and well matched. The antagonist didn't have to say anything at all and I still got the point! Maybe even loved the role a little more for the mystery...

The storyline is modern but the themes are old as time.

I would also say the first like 10 minutes of the film really set the stage so don't be late to your viewing!

Otherwise bring a full bowl of popcorn... and eat it fast so you don't throw it out of you lap at the first thrill!!!

I found this work to be an astute and entertaining comment on this moment -- both in terms of film and the nation state Clocking under two hours, it manages to tell a number of stories at a brisk pace.

While the horror genre lends itself to one anticipating outcomes, I was still surprised by the film's ending, as well as the endings of the characters -- many of whom I had grown to care for.

Admittedly, some images and circumstances echo other films in the genre, but Pinkin's story is puts those images and circumstance in service of greater questions about nation, race, and belonging. By the final, terrifying montage, I found myself reflecting on all that I had just seen.

I can't figure out what this film was intended to be. As social parody or identity politics allegory, it's as subtle as a jackhammer busting up concrete. As an entry in the horror genre, it doesn't really engage the viewer. I found it hard to identify with most of the victims given their personalities, although the cast did a good job with the roles they were given. Finally, insertion of old Nazi film clips just seems gratuitous. As a coda, I watched it the day after Trump announced he could "seek a third term", despite Constitutional restrictions. In that context, the film is pretty unsettling, but standing on its own, it could use some clarity in plot and setting.