'Bad Folks': Indie Film Review
Bad Folks
Directed by Michael Crum
Written by Gerald Crum
Produced by Joshua Winch, Gerald Crum, and Michael Crum
Starring: Chance Gibbs (2013’s TV’s Dallas), Joshua Winch (Lake Fear), Shanon Snedden (Allegiance of Power), Gerald Crum (Lake Fear 3), James Burleson (Suburban Coven), Kendra Leigh Riddle, Andrew Riddle, and John Zetty (Lake Fear 3).
Bad Folks is a thriller that is set in the course of one night and focuses on eight bad folks in a bar. Each individual has a hidden agenda that will lead each of them to test their trust in their friends and result in a deadly confrontation. Only one will walk away. Gerald Crum wrote the screenplay with great twists and turns. You will never know what will bring you to the end. The twist at the end truly is a pay-off for the entire movie. The movie will keep you guessing what is going on as you learn about each of individuals and their purposes for being there. Michael Crum, director of this film, was able to manage the film in such a way where it can keep one on the edge of their seats. One may think that the film is going one direction before it takes an unexpected turn. The direction of Michael Crum makes audiences think twice about the characters.
The movie opens with an almost empty bar. It seems like it is almost closing time as we are introduced to each character, with a few friends dancing around (Kendra Leigh Riddle, Andrew Riddle and Shanon Snedden), then we see that two friends (Chance Gibbs and James Burleson) are sitting at the table enjoying their drinks and conversation. Then there is the loner with bad attitude played by John Zetty with Gerald Crum as the tough Jake. Last but not least, there is Joshua Winch, who plays the badass bartender that you don’t want to mess with. As soon as we are introduced to each character, the movie does not waste any time. We quickly get into their conflict and their purpose, or what you think is their purpose. Once you think you get what the character’s purpose is, the film takes you to an unexpected turn that makes you think twice. This movie is packed with surprises, as well as quick flashbacks that give you more information about the characters. Each character has goals and character development conveyed through powerful performances from each actor.
Jake, the stud and tough guy, is played by the writer of this film himself, Gerald Crum, who is such a great actor as well. Gerald Crum was able to give the audience knowledge in a quick thirty seconds after his introduction, telling us who Jake is, or at least that this guy is bad news. The confrontation among Carlos, Six, and himself keeps one on the edge of their seat, feeling the thrills and chills from their outstanding performances. You do not want to blink, as you may miss something. With all the intensity among the characters, we need a comic relief character, and that is when Andrew Riddle comes in with his character, Gary, who is kind of reckless but comical. However, we find out that he is also hiding a deadly secret just like everyone else in the room. His performance is also phenomenal as initially seems like just another lousy guy who appears clueless about life. Boy did that turn out not to be true. Andrew was able to bring that character to life with his performance. James Burleson and Chance Gibbs also have a great chemistry between them. Their performances as Christian and Peter may give hope that not everyone in this room is bad, but they are able to fool us. Only talented actors are able to pull off something like that. It is easy to fall in love with these two as soon as we are introduced to them. But then we learn more about who they are, with their deadly hidden goal as their characters are developing. Not to mention Shanon Snedden and Kendra Leigh Riddle each did such an amazing job portraying these bad ass girls with shotguns.
John Zetty’s performance as Carlos, a loner with a bad attitude, is very interesting. He was able to make this character someone you will look down upon because of his bad attitude. At the same time, however, you do not want to mess with him. His chemistry with Joshua Winch’s Six the bartender has an outstanding balance between the two. The development of their characters is amazing as we see them as good buddies as the road turns to a different direction. Powerful performance from Joshua Winch. As soon as we were introduced to the bartender, he seems like just an ordinary bartender. But that assumption is wrong. Dead wrong. This guy is packed with some backstory that makes you not want to get involved. Wait until he shows his badass attitude; the audience will be wowed by it. This reminds me of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Rundown when he does not like using guns because he had a bad experience in the past. But in the end, we see him shooting a gun, and he is very good at it, wowing the audience with sharp shooting. Joshua Winch was able to carefully craft his character to that point, from zero to a man with a past, making us wonder, who is this bad ass bartender? It is not easy to produce and act in a movie simultaneously, but Joshua was able to balance that and still pull off an outstanding performance.
The Crum brothers did really well in this movie, from the writing to direction and outstanding cast. If you are looking for a thrill that keeps you guessing and at the edge of your seat with twists and unexpected turns that will make you speechless, this is it! Bad Folks can bring that to the table and provide all the entertainment value you are looking for.
Bad Folks is coming soon in 2021 from MGI Films and Summer Hill Films.