"High Heat" is a hoot. Though it may sound in synopsis like standard genre fare suitable for quick-service consumption on digital and streaming platforms, this satisfying mix of suspense and black comedy plays almost like a wink and a nod from such a cookie cutter. time killers. In fact, director Zach Golden and screenwriter James Pedersen go as far as deliberately emphasizing the telltale sign of an indie production on a limited budget: Most of the action takes place on just two sets, a restaurant and a parking lot, while intertwining clichés and conventions. with conscious wit and sass in a fast-paced package. Better yet, it seems like everyone on screen got wind of the joke, but no one takes that knowledge as a license to break character or even dent the fourth wall.
The film hooks from the start, with composer Max Di Carlo's energetic opening theme underscoring a colorfully retro credits sequence (by Danny Oakley and Out of Our Minds Studios) that actually makes it bearable to sit through a list. endless line of executive producers. From there, we're plunged into the chaos of the barely controlled kitchen during opening night at Etoile Rouge, where head chef and co-owner Ana Abramov (Olga Kurylenko) issues commands with full authority (but a little less abrasive). from Gordon. Ramsay. At the front, diners are greeted with a dazzling smile, cheerful charm, and hearty "Bon appétit!" by Ana's husband and partner Ray, played by Don Johnson in silver fox mode.
Director: Zach Golden
Writer: James Pedersen
Stars: Michael Barra, Erik Bloomquist, Seth Andrew Bridges
The grand opening is on track to be a smashing success until the arrival of Mick (Ivan Martin), the son of Dom (Dallas Page), a gangster who invested in Ray's early restaurant businesses, neither of which became successful. exit. profit. This time, Dom has hatched a plot to secure a quick return on the $1.3 million he lent Ray to finance Etoile Rouge, namely to burn the place down to get insurance money.
Naturally, Ray hasn't said anything about his demanding investor to Ana, who, curiously, never seems to have asked her husband where she got the seed money to make her long-cherished dream of opening a high-class restaurant come true. world. . Then again, every husband and wife hide secrets, right? As it turns out, Ana has a pretty convenient skeleton in her closet: she's a retired KGB agent trained to inflict serious bodily damage with everything from automatic weapons to handfuls of celery stalks. Mick and Don have a vantage point in a parking lot across the street; the more they send subordinates to commit arson and worse at the Etoile Rouge, the higher the body count.
Rest assured, though, there are several good laughs in between (and, quite often, during) the flurries of the rough stuff. Dom does not hide his deep disappointment for his son: “This was not supposed to be difficult, Mick! That's why I sent you to take care of him!" And he must quell his fury while he negotiates overtime rates with the leader of the freelance assassins. Even as they avoid repeated attacks on their restaurant, Ana and Ray find time to fight like a conventional married couple. Her: "No wonder you've been divorced twice!" Him: "That's a little below the belt, don't you think?" Still, Ray insists that despite all his flaws, he will stand by his wife. And his restaurant. “Sixty-five percent of waiters quit during their shift,” he says. "I'm not going to be one of them."
And speaking of married couples: the funniest of the fun comes courtesy of Mimi (Kaitlin Doubleday), Ana's deadly nemesis friend from her KGB days, and Tom (Chris Diamantopoulos), a lethally competent sniper and unbelievably husband. patient. They bring their creepy twin daughters from “The Shining” (Bianca D'Ambrosio, Chiara D'Ambrosio) with them when they venture to Etoile Rouge to reinforce and/or kill Ana because, last time, the girls were left home alone. They threw an unsupervised party.
It would be unfair to reveal how things turned out to any of the aforementioned people, or to Gary (Jackie Long), a skilled masseur who is understandably nervous while caught in the crossfire. So let's just put it at this: “High Heat” is a movie where pretty much everyone gets exactly what they're entitled to. Well, with the possible exception of someone making a rude comment about the noticeable age difference between Ana and Ray. That person gets away with it relatively speaking.
Watch High Heat 2022 Movie Trailer
Comments
Post a Comment