DRIVE ANGRY

US, 2011, 104 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, David Morse, Tom Atkins.
Directed by Patrick Lussier.

Drive Angry is a typical Nicolas Cage star vehicle of this period of his career. In 2010-11 he made quite a number of films including The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Season of the Witch, Trespass, Seeking Justice, Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance. In most of the films he plays a variation on his portrayal of the anguished hero who turns violent. This is very much the case here. In fact, the rather absurd screenplay and treatment look like a rejected film for the Ghost Rider series.

The film was directed by Patrick Lussier, long-time editor for Wes Craven and his horror films. Lussier also directed the interesting Dracula AD 2000.

This film begins in Hell with some comment about the nature of Hell and has Nicolas Cage as John Milton (Paradise Lost) driving out of Hell on a quest to find his daughter who has been killed by a sect leader. In his pursuit, he encounters a young woman who is disillusioned with her philandering boyfriend. They are also pursued by a mysterious, suited and tied figure, The Accountant, played by William Fichtner. As he pursues them, he gets the police to pursue the fleeing couple, there are lots of chases, shootouts, and images of the sect, consisting mainly of obese rednecks. There is a culmination and shootout with the sect leader trying to perform a satanic rite and kill the grandchild of Nicolas Cage. For no accountable reason, The Accountant then helps Cage in his mission. They return to Hell – and the intention of driving out again. (These themes and incidents are very much reminiscent of Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance.)

Billy Burke appears as the sect leader. David Morse appears as John Milton’s friend. Amber Heard is the heroine – and a striking and vigorous one at that.

1. The popularity of this kind of film? Action violence? Car chases? Shootouts?

2. The opening in Hell, the visuals and stylised image? The return to these images at the end? The overtones of Satan and his presence in the world? Jonah King and the satanic cult? The Accountant and his seemingly being the accountant for Satan? The audience liking these kinds of ‘supernatural’ themes?

3. The film as a piece of Americana, crossing the American countryside, the range of scenery, small towns? The redneck areas of America?

4. Nicolas Cage as John Milton, his presence and style of performance? Driving out of Hell? On a mission? No hesitation in shooting his adversaries? His being pursued? The Accountant and his wanting to track down Milton and Piper? Milton stopping at the diner, the rednecks? His meeting with Piper, her finding her boyfriend with the woman? The showdown? Driving off? At the hotel, the pursuit? The continued chases? Milton and his guns – and the supernatural gun? The build-up to the confrontation with Jonah King? The motivation, the flashbacks, his daughter, in the cult, the baby being born? Abducted for sacrifice? The build-up to the finale, Piper and her help, The Accountant arriving and helping? Webster and his friendship? The confrontation, Milton being beaten? His getting the gun, destroying Jonah King, saving the baby? Returning to Hell with The Accountant?

5. The Accountant, well-dressed, well-spoken? Sinister? Mysterious? From Hell, the contact with Satan? His mind-bending activities? The police, their pursuit – and being killed? The car chases? The guns? His finally helping Milton? Against Jonah King? Saving the baby, going back to Hell?

6. Piper, her personality, in the diner, her boyfriend, her disillusionment, tough action? Going with Milton? Her fears? The guns, the chases? The shootouts? Her having to use the gun? The rescue of the baby?

7. Jonah King, the leader of the cult? Self-proclaimed saviour? The strange characters who followed him? The credibility of their belonging to such a cult? His hold over them, the ceremonies, the final satanic ritual, wanting to kill the child? Fighting Milton, his death?

8. Webster, his helping Milton, appearing at the end?

9. The police, the investigations, the pursuits? The role of The Accountant? The final confrontation? The police stepping back?

10. The ugly atmosphere of the film? The violence and shootouts? The rather Texas Chainsaw Massacre type of characters who were members of the cult? And their behaviour along these lines?