Definitely not a Hollywood big- budget blockbuster, which is extra incentive to watch for me. With surely a limited budget to work with, I was truly impressed with every facet of this film, a quality production throughout. The script, plot and dialog was believable, with explicit language, drug use, violence and sexuality used to create necessary realism, instead of being the main or only focus of the film. The difficult themes were, incredibly, very tastefully presented. The director stayed on course, without drifting all over or dragging the viewer through dull filler scenes. The plot, while not really new or unique, held my interest and was easy to follow without becoming confusing. I thought the acting was superb, totally believable, engaging, and professional. The actors seemed well-cast and were attractive, with appearances that were mostly excellently matched to their characters. The "crackhead" and violent criminal characters were perhaps a little too clean-cut, attractive and their teeth too white and cared for,
but did make watching them more pleasant, if slightly less authentic. But not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the movie. The soundtrack and background music added positive dramatic emphasis, rather than being jarring, annoying or used to camouflage a weak script, direction or acting. The audio was excellent, and didn't overpower the dialog or make me grab the remote to lower or raise the volume, as is the case with so many movies, whether blockbuster or low- budget B. I liked that there was a clear moral to the story. I'm streaming this for the first time in 2023, I don't know anyone connected with the production of this movie, and am not personally in need of a cautionary tale, as I have two toddler grandchildren. I watch purely for entertainment and escapism, which I feel was provided, and recommend it, 7/10 stars.
