Those used to the typical Kevin Smith film full of foul-mouthed and over-the-top humor are in for a wild ride with his latest, “Red State,” a significant departure from the film work audiences have grown accustom to from the director. Smith, most known for displaying his witty and humorous, yet sometimes empty comedies full of dick and fart jokes, leaves all sight of his past at the door with this modern realistic horror film.

You have to admire Smith for taking a shot at something out of his comfortable zone and for the most part he succeeds. While likely not a film that will have repeat viewing value, the director takes a gamble with this one and comes up near the top.

A group of teenagers out in a desperate search for a night of sex with unknown women instead find themselves wrapped up in a religious sect that has something else entirely in mind. A chain of events leads to an unlikely and explosive conclusion you won’t easily forget.

Smith’s screenplay is completely void of any dialogue which could be label signature to the wisecracking filmmaker and could even be considered ambitious. Even Smith’s frequent collaborator, camera man Dave Klein, is impressive with his far from static cinematography that fans of the director have grown to suffer through over the years. Instead Klein shines with some arresting images in this demented yet eye-popping film.

Quentin Tarantino regular Michael Parks, whose character is loosely based on controversial baptist pastor Fred Phelps, has some inspiring moments as Abin Cooper, the sinister pastor of Five Points Church, a religious sect with a severely disturbing agenda. Likewise for talented actress Melissa Leo fresh off of her Oscar win for last year’s “The Fighter.” However, it is John Goodman, who steals the show here as ATF Agent Keenan sent to deal with the elevated situation at hand.

If this reviewer has one complaint it is the often times preachy moments that attempt to drive the point of the plot home, but in a number of scenes instead drags the viewer out of the picture. Still the intriguing stretches far outweigh its issues leaving viewers with a captivating 90 minutes of cinema.

As a dear friend recently said about the film – it would have been curious to see what direction Smith’s career may have headed in if he would have only taken a stab at a film like this a decade ago. Instead we are left wondering “what if” as Smith heads into production on the final film of his directing career – at least, according to the director – with the two-part comedy, “Hit Somebody.”

“Red State” comes out on DVD and Blu-ray on October 18.

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