Dragged Across Concrete * * * *
S. Craig Zahler is a fascinating director. I have been following his work for a few years now. He gave us Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block Number Nine.
This film is no less confrontational - and just as good. Zahler has a way of developing an atmosphere that is both repellent and seductive, rather like David Lynch.
Once again, Zahler has recruited Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Carpenter. He has also brought Mel Gibson on board for this production. I must say since his "upset" a few years ago, the work that Mel Gibson is doing is better than anything he did prior - and boy is he good in this!
Like S. Craig Zahler's other work the plot of "Dragged" is not overly complicated, but it is highly character driven. You get to know these people quite quickly and as you do, anything they do does not greatly surprise you: be it heroic duplicitous or dastardly. These are leopards that don't
change their spots.
Firstly we are introduced to a young man recently released from prison. He is angered to learn how his mother is making a living. But what choice does she have? She has to support herself and his younger brother in a wheel chair. He needs to make money.
With his "cuz" he gets involved in a bank heist but they have no idea how crazy, brutal, violent these robbers can be. They are intimidating, evil, totally unfeeling creatures. Killing was never part of the plan, but suddenly it is everywhere.
We also meet a couple of hard bitten detectives who have been judged harshly by their superiors and taken off-duty for a few months - Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn. Dissapointed with the lack of support and sick of being wage-slaves they decide to cross the line. But this results in them stumbling across the same bank heist that is going bloodily wrong.
Do they stay as non-cops or do they try and intervene?
Knowing a woman has been taken hostage,they follow the getaway vehicle to a place of confrontation. It's like a deserted scrapyard. The stage is set and Zahler uses it to full effect as he builds a tense, degrading and terrifying situation.
This film is no less confrontational - and just as good. Zahler has a way of developing an atmosphere that is both repellent and seductive, rather like David Lynch.
Once again, Zahler has recruited Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Carpenter. He has also brought Mel Gibson on board for this production. I must say since his "upset" a few years ago, the work that Mel Gibson is doing is better than anything he did prior - and boy is he good in this!
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| Ready to kill Vince? Right behind you Mel. |
change their spots.
Firstly we are introduced to a young man recently released from prison. He is angered to learn how his mother is making a living. But what choice does she have? She has to support herself and his younger brother in a wheel chair. He needs to make money.
With his "cuz" he gets involved in a bank heist but they have no idea how crazy, brutal, violent these robbers can be. They are intimidating, evil, totally unfeeling creatures. Killing was never part of the plan, but suddenly it is everywhere.
We also meet a couple of hard bitten detectives who have been judged harshly by their superiors and taken off-duty for a few months - Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn. Dissapointed with the lack of support and sick of being wage-slaves they decide to cross the line. But this results in them stumbling across the same bank heist that is going bloodily wrong.
Do they stay as non-cops or do they try and intervene?
Knowing a woman has been taken hostage,they follow the getaway vehicle to a place of confrontation. It's like a deserted scrapyard. The stage is set and Zahler uses it to full effect as he builds a tense, degrading and terrifying situation.
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