Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0876964001632
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: Magnolia
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Magnolia
MPN: MAGD10163D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Magnolia
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-10-28
Running Time: 93
Studio: Magnolia
Theatrical Release Date: 2008

An older, reclusive man, Avery, (Brian Cox) has a best friend in his dog RED. When three teens kill Red for no reason, Avery sets out for justice and redemption, attempting to follow the letter of the law. But when the law fails him, and the boys' father (Tom Sizemore) clearly defines right and wrong in his own way, Avery must use whatever means possible.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie
Comment: I've never heard of this movie before but, when I saw it,wow, it was fantastic!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: "You don't always need to see the truth to know it." Grade: A
Comment: How far, really, would you go if someone took the one thing that meant the entire world to you away without any reason or logic? This is just one of the questions posed to the viewer in the film, the most recent adaptation of a Jack Ketchum novel.

Red takes all your preconceived notions of what a revenge film is, which, for some reason, is what this film is being marketed as. It's not really a revenge film at all; when I think vigilante revenge I think of Death Wish or even Thriller: A Cruel Picture, but not this film. This is a character study of how one simple, plain man reacts to a gruesome scenario; almost a noir in the sense that an every day man is placed into the absurdity of violence and malevolence.

It is a film about choices, those we do and do not make, and the consequences they bring about. When Ludlow is told by his friend in the police force that no one wants to help him, the DA won't prosecute, the local news refuses to cover the story any further after an initial airing of a brief interview with Ludlow, he doesn't necessarily take the law into his hands per say, he simply does a little bit further than most people would as they let the cops take care of everything. So, the idea of law and those who supposedly uphold it, the police & court systems, is questioned with a subtlety that might be missed in the light of preconceived ideas that this is a shoot 'em up, older man snaps film in the vein of Falling Down. This is not, I say again, that type of a film; it is a study of human beings and the terrible things we're capable of, and how most try to make sense of the senseless, in this case it's simply Ludlow's quest for an apology from the young boy who so happily murdered his dog and the things he does to get it. Unfortunately, once Ludlow gets it, it's too late and there's no real going back after all has been said and done.

Brian Cox, as always, does a spectacular job with his role, I'm thoroughly convinced that the man can not hand in a bad performance. (not that he hasn't made some questionable choices with the films he chooses to be in, i.e. The Ringer) Tom Sizemore actually manages to lift himself from his real life booze and drug addicted haze to hand in a convincing performance as a father who simply does not care, who feels that every problem can either be punched (as is made clear by the bruises on his wife's face.) or bought off. All else included do their best with their roles as well, not a bad performance to be found here.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A nice little surprise
Comment: Based on a Jack Ketchum novel, Red is a nice little discovery made even better thanks to the performance of the always teriffic Brian Cox (the original Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, and you've also seen him in everything from The Bourne Identity to X2: X-Men United to having a stint on the final season of Deadwood) who here plays a reclusive old man named Avery, who enjoys just passing the days with his trusty old dog Red. His quiet world gets shattered however after Red is viciously killed for no reason by a troubled rich kid (Noel Fisher) whose father (Tom Sizemore) refuses to let Avery get any sort of justice. It isn't long before Avery seeks to take justice in his own hands, and things begin to spiral out of control. Co-directed by Trygve Allister Diesen and rising horror great Lucky McKee, Red is simple in its storytelling of a damaged man that isn't out for revenge, but just wants the justice that he deserves. Were it not for the wonderful performance of Cox, the character more than likely wouldn't work out as well as it does here. And while the film does to fall apart a little as it winds down, Red still manages to leave the viewer with quite an impact, and is riveting throughout as well. Also featuring Amanda Plummer, Kim Dickens (another Deadwood vet), Hellraiser's Ashley Laurence, and Robert "Freddy Kruger" Englund.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Boring and disappointing.
Comment: RED is about a lonely old man named Avery (Brian Cox) who's minding his own business one day at the river with his dog, Red, and doing some fishing when a couple of teenagers armed with a shotgun show up, harass the him, and then kill his dog for no reason. Heartbroken, Avery goes to the Police and due to no witnesses and no evidence, nothing will be done about it. So he takes matters into his own hands. He meets a news reporter who believes in his story and puts this case on the news so that it gets peoples attention. Unfortunately it gets the attention of the father of two of the teenagers (Tom Sizemore) and, of course, the teens. What follows is a whole lot of nothing.

Going into this movie, I thought it was going to be about revenge. And during the film, when seeing Avery's story unfold (a horrific family tragedy and now his dog, and only companion, being killed), I thought it would be a matter of time before he snapped and pulled a Michael Douglas. Plus the antagonists (Sizemore and especially the teenagers) were so unlikeable, that I figured it was a perfect setup to lure the audience into WANTING Avery to go bananas and not just avenge the death of his dog but to do so in a gruesome manner. Sure it's silly to think that someone would take another human life over a dog. But Avery is someone who has nothing to lose. So what happens when you take away the only thing that a man who has nothing to lose cares about? Well, apparently nothing. I waited and waited and waited. And nothing happened. Throughout the film Avery is the victim and is always the underdog (no pun intended). His character is weak and his actions are just... normal. He doesn't go off the deep end like you would think and the film walks a pretty straight path throughout. He shows hints of "going there" but ultimately doesn't, thus resulting in an extremely disappointing and boring film.

The film quality is very good and is shot well. The cast was great. Brian Cox did an excellent job, however his character was just boring. Sizemore, who is normally fantastic at playing unlikeable (or even likeable) psychos, actually seems pretty tame in this film. Robert Englund (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET) and Amanda Plummer play the parents of the third teenager. Ashley Laurence (HELLRAISER) plays Sizemore's wife and mother of two of the boys. So we have a great cast, two stars from CLASSIC Horror films in the movie, and the film is co-Directed by one of Horror's best up and coming Directors, Lucky McKee (MAY, THE WOODS). So why the low rating? Well, for one the pace was VERY slow. However, the short length (90 minutes) keeps it from dragging on for too long. And the overall outcome of the story was just super disappointing. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. I had read a lot of good reviews about this movie and ultimately didn't see what the big deal is. I would RECOMMEND it in hopes that someone else may like it and enjoy it, but personally I wouldn't watch it again.

The DVD Extra Features are a few Deleted Scenes and a short interview with lead actor Brian Cox.

2 stars

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Gripping Story
Comment: Whether or not you are an animal lover, this movie quickly draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final showdown. The cast is also amazing. Not just the main actors like Brian Cox, Tom Sizemore and Amanda Plummer; but wonderful actors such as "Freddy Kruger" actor Robert Englund as one of the bully's father was fantastic. Definitely a must own movie.

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