{"id":24021,"date":"2017-01-25T13:52:49","date_gmt":"2017-01-25T18:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=24021"},"modified":"2017-01-25T13:52:49","modified_gmt":"2017-01-25T18:52:49","slug":"parasites-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/25\/parasites-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Parasites (2017)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Let’s cut<\/span> to the chase<\/span>: Chad Ferrin’s \u201cParasites<\/span>\u201d is<\/span> easily<\/span> one of the best<\/span> movies<\/span> of 2017. It’s culturally relevant, very<\/span> creepy<\/span>, compelling, gritty<\/span>, and packs<\/span> a punch<\/span> of a climax<\/span> that is<\/span> both incredibly<\/span> evocative<\/span> and promises<\/span> to keep<\/span> audiences<\/span> debating<\/span> for days<\/span>. Set<\/span> in Los Angeles, three college friends<\/span> are<\/span> on the way<\/span> home<\/span> accidentally<\/span> find<\/span> themselves stranded<\/span> in skid row<\/span>. While there, they become<\/span> victims<\/span> to the predatory Wilco, a vicious<\/span> and violent homeless man<\/span> who leads<\/span> a massive<\/span> army<\/span> of wayward individuals<\/span>. After terrorizing<\/span> the trio<\/span> of youths<\/span>, events<\/span> spiral<\/span> out of control<\/span> prompting<\/span> Wilco to scramble to conceal<\/span> his crimes<\/span>. When character<\/span> Marshal survives<\/span> out of pure chance<\/span>, he flees<\/span> for his life<\/span>, prompting<\/span> Wilco and his army<\/span> to track<\/span> him down and hunt<\/span> him in the middle<\/span> of the city<\/span>. Now<\/span> Marshal has<\/span> to fight<\/span> for survival<\/span>, and look<\/span> for help<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Director<\/span> Chad Ferrin channels<\/span> the likes<\/span> of directors<\/span> like John Carpenter, and George Romero offering<\/span> a ton of tributes<\/span> to both directors<\/span> in the way<\/span> of themes<\/span> and tidbits<\/span> in major plot<\/span> turns<\/span>. Thankfully<\/span>, \u201cParasites\u201d manages to stand<\/span> on its own<\/span>, though, presenting<\/span> a very<\/span> war<\/span> torn Los Angeles engulfed<\/span> in major class<\/span> warfare<\/span> and human<\/span> cruelty<\/span> that is<\/span> not<\/span> at all a world<\/span> apart from our own<\/span>. In the scenes<\/span> leading<\/span> in to the central<\/span> plot<\/span> one character<\/span> is<\/span> murdered<\/span> with an Obama \u201cHope<\/span>\u201d tee shirt on. Director<\/span> Chad Ferrin does<\/span>n’t just<\/span> opt<\/span> for open<\/span> social<\/span> commentary<\/span>, but he makes<\/span> some very<\/span> subtle<\/span> explorations of how absolutely<\/span> cruel<\/span> out system<\/span> has<\/span> become<\/span>. Every character<\/span> garners<\/span> some twisted<\/span> form<\/span> of ideology that is<\/span> based<\/span> very<\/span> much<\/span> on their mission<\/span> of self<\/span> preservation<\/span> in a world<\/span> that threatens<\/span> to destroy<\/span> them.<\/p>\n

There are<\/span> no real<\/span> heroes<\/span> and villains<\/span>, especially<\/span> when writer<\/span> Ferrin subtly delves<\/span> in to every character<\/span>‘s back<\/span> story<\/span> asking<\/span> to garner<\/span> some sense<\/span> of understanding<\/span> for even<\/span> the worst<\/span> of the principal<\/span> characters<\/span>. Director<\/span> Ferrin derives<\/span> top notch<\/span> performances<\/span> from the entire<\/span> cast<\/span>, including<\/span> Sean Samuels. As character<\/span> Marshal, he’s forced<\/span> to go<\/span> through hell<\/span> and back<\/span> to find<\/span> some semblance<\/span> of civilization<\/span> as he struggles<\/span> to fight<\/span> his way<\/span> out of the underbelly of LA. Meanwhile<\/span>, Robert Miano is<\/span> often<\/span> incredible<\/span> as antagonist<\/span> Wilco, an often<\/span> enigmatic<\/span> violent entity in the film<\/span> who poses<\/span> the perfect<\/span> threat<\/span> to Marshal. He has<\/span> no background<\/span>, no logical<\/span> motives<\/span> for his actions<\/span>, and is<\/span> absolutely<\/span> relentless<\/span> in his pursuit<\/span> of young<\/span> Marshal throughout, for reasons<\/span> only<\/span> he can truly<\/span> understand<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u201cParasites\u201d has<\/span> a low<\/span> tech aesthetic<\/span> that helps<\/span> add<\/span> a stark<\/span> realism<\/span> to much<\/span> of the events<\/span> that unfold. The way<\/span> Ferrin lenses<\/span> and films<\/span> Los Angeles makes<\/span> it a nightmarish<\/span> abyss<\/span> of faceless and blank<\/span> landscapes with no actual<\/span> humanity<\/span> present<\/span>. Director<\/span> Ferrin offers<\/span> up a Los Angeles completely<\/span> destroyed<\/span> by the current political and social<\/span> climate<\/span>, and sadly<\/span> does<\/span>n’t seem<\/span> too<\/span> optimistic<\/span> about what the future<\/span> will hold<\/span> for the further<\/span> widening<\/span> gap<\/span> of class<\/span>, race<\/span>, and gentrification. Chad<\/span> Ferrin’s \u201cParasites<\/span>\u201d is<\/span> an absolutely<\/span> superb horror<\/span> thriller whose simplicity<\/span> and grindhouse thrills<\/span> belies a very<\/span> rich<\/span> commentary about the horrific<\/span> class<\/span> and race<\/span> warfare<\/span>, and how it’s probably<\/span> going<\/span> to get<\/span> much<\/span> worse<\/span> before it gets<\/span> much<\/span> better<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Now Available for Rental and Purchase on Digital HD<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n