Rating: 4 out of 5
According to a news article, in December of 1985, the corpse of a medium sized black bear was found in the middle of a forest in Kentucky, and along with it, millions of dollars worth of cocaine, some of which it had ingested. Elizabeth Banks takes this concept and modifies it into a newer, and more grotesque story. Released in theaters on Feb. 24 and directed by Banks, “Cocaine Bear” is about exactly what the title suggests: A black bear consumes a lethal amount of cocaine and proceeds to wreak havoc among drug dealers, gangster teenagers, and children. Banks takes plenty of liberty with this premise, as the cocaine in the film is treated almost like a superdrug that enhances the bear to impossibly ferocious and terrifying levels.
At its core, “Cocaine Bear” is a campy thriller film involving a violent, yet intelligent creature, similar to characters such as the shark in “Jaws” or dinosaurs featured in “Jurassic Park.” But with the copious amounts of gore and well-timed obscenities, the film takes its own spin on the genre, and is arguably one of the most entertaining films of the year so far.
The film is definitely not for the faint of heart, evident by a well-deserved R-rating. It frequently toes between gruesome and absurd, with scenes of flying limbs and spraying blood or even two elementary school children attempting to eat cocaine, albeit very unsuccessfully.
From the opening of the film — a short excerpt from a Wikipedia page describing the behavior habits of black bears — the audience can easily see that the film has no intention of being profound or thought-provoking.
But of course, the big star of this film is none other than Cocaine Bear herself. Striking the perfect chord between cute and ferocious, Cocaine Bear is an invincible force on the screen, ripping and tearing her way through the cast of unfortunate characters that happen to converge in the forests of the aptly named Blood Mountain.
Despite the odd enjoyment factor of the movie, it is not without any flaws. The last third of the movie is frankly, quite disappointing compared to the frenzied action and bloodshed of the other two-thirds of the movie. Multiple odd side plots are also introduced throughout the film, such as one involving an overly docile pet dog, and only serve to detract from the movie’s absurd premise.
Ultimately though, despite its relatively weak ending, the film creates such a lasting impression on audiences with its spectacular suspense and grim humor, that you cannot help but stare in awe at the screen as the credits roll.