2014 Movie ReviewsMovies

Movie Review: Cold in July

Sam Shepard, Michael C. Hall, and Don Johnson in Cold in July
Sam Shepard, Michael C. Hall, and Don Johnson in Cold in July Photo Courtesy of IFC Films

Fear, confusion, and disgust are all emotions that permeate Jim Mickle’s pulpy crime thriller Cold in July. Mickle immerses us in this visceral experience through a gritty atmosphere that makes these sensations constantly palpable. As a result, the film feels like a hauntingly surreal reenactment from the show Unsolved Mysteries right down to its similar eerie music. The movie maintains uncomfortable suspense the entire time, by slowly unraveling each plot piece meticulously.

Click here to read the full review on Letterboxd.com.

Evan Crean

Hello! My name is Evan Crean. By day I work for a marketing agency, but by night, I’m a film critic based in Boston, MA. Since 2009, I have written hundreds of movie reviews and celebrity interviews for Starpulse.com. I have also contributed pieces to NewEnglandFilm.com and to The Independent, as a writer and editor. I maintain an active Letterboxd account too. In addition to publishing short form work, I am a co-author of the book Your ’80s Movie Guide to Better Living, which is available on CreateSpace and Amazon. The book is the first in a series of lighthearted self-help books for film fans, which distills advice from ’80s movies on how to tackle many of life’s challenges. On top of writing, I co-host and edit the weekly film podcast Spoilerpiece Theatre with two other Boston film critics. I’m a founding member and the current treasurer for the Boston Online Film Critics Association as well. This site, Reel Recon.com, is a one-stop-shop where you can find links to all of my past and present work. Have any questions or comments after checking it out? Please feel free to email me (Evan Crean) at: ecrean AT reelrecon DOT COM .