COLD IN JULY

US, 2014, 109 minutes, Colour.
Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw, Nick Damici, Wyatt Russell.
Directed by Jim Mickle.

Cold in July is an evocative title for the film, though one might wonder how it is exemplified in the screenplay.

In many ways, the film is rather unpredictable, which makes it continually interesting, but it leaves quite a number of questions raised unanswered, or left for the audience imagination.

The focus of the film is on a window framer, played by Dexter’s Michael C. Hall, initially playing against Dexter type but eventually having to go into action. He and his wife at home hear noises in the night, and when he searches, nervously putting bullets into his gun, the intruder shines a torch and the framer shoots him. The police are very considerate, taking statements, the framer getting a reputation in his East Texas town (the setting is 1989) as well as newspaper headlines.

The police tell him who the intruder is, son of a prisoner just released. The prisoner goes to the dead man’s funeral and threatens the window framer, especially his son. The ex-prisoner is played by Sam Shepard.

Part of the complication is that the man killed is not the prisoner’s son, that there is a connection to the Dixie Mafia, that the actual son might be an informant against them and in witness protection. The two men decide to find out the truth and the prisoner calls on a buddy from the Korean war, now an investigator, to find his actual son. The investigator is played with some cheerful flamboyance by Don Johnson.

The investigation leads them to a house in Huston, the tough Mexican, a snuff video, the video shop, a warehouse where the snuff movies are filmed and a final violent confrontation.

No real information by the end of the film as to who was actually shot, what the activities of the Dixie Mafia were, any detail of the witness protection… Nevertheless, the film is interesting as an investigation thriller, it is very vigilante action at the end.

1. An interesting prediction: plot, characters, twists, Max?

2. Based on a true story, East Texas, 1989? The feel of the time, homes, police station, shops? Huston? The musical score?

3. Richard, his wife in bed, the noise, the intruder, the, the garden, struggling, the torch and his firing? His reaction, his wife’s? Their son? The police reactions making statements, the headlines in the press, the postman’s comment, Richard and his reputation?

4. The funeral, it, Richard watching? Russell present, to the car, the confrontation? The story of his son, his being in prison? His threats?

5. Price, the police, friendly, the investigation, Richardson the poster was looked at for the moment killed? His fears?

6. Russell, the threats, the reaction of his wife, the thread to be some his being crawlspace, his arrest?

7. The family, at home, the utterly the meal, the sons tantrum and his wife’s reaction, Richard and his response?

8. The police offering protection, reassurance?

9. Russell, in prison, the police, tying them up, out, putting them on the track? Richard following, saving Russell? Taking into the shack, giving him water, the help, explaining the shot was not his son? Digging up the corporate?

10. The background stories, the Dixie Mafia, Frank and his life, in witness protection, giving testimony against the Mafia?

11. The decision of the 2 to search for his son, Richard and his story about going to Houston? Reassuring?

12. Russell: Jimmy, the past in Korea and Russell saving his life, laconic, help? Choose flamboyant style, going to the shop, the picture to be framed? His personality? Going to’s property, the pigs and cattle? His and his connections, the method of eliminating people on the list of the driving licence, the address?

13. Going to the house, the encounter with the Mexican in the fight, taking the video? Watching it, the snuff movie, Russell son involved? Russell looking, his decision – and his shooting practice?

14. Going to the shop, Richard talking to the proprietor, the Mexican coming in, his get out, the following car, finding the location, the role of Frank and his associates, the girl, the building, filming?

15. Going to the vigilante action, in the guns, the final confrontation? Russell, shooting his son, the truth, shooting? Russell is shocked, his death?

16. These returning to normal – but the screw and not answering who the man was that Richard killed, the background of the Dixie Mafia, Frank in witness protection, the role of the police and trying to get rid of Russell?