The 0 - 3 reviews seem to be written by people who think that every film must include automatic gunfire, CGI explosions or a car chase. Instead of this, Feral State shows what you can do by investing in the script, characters and camerawork: create intrigue and tension - and any film that keeps you watching until the end deserves 5/10 at least. All of the acting seemed fine to me and Ronnie Gene Blevins convincingly holds the whole thing together as the father figure of not just a gang, but also a community. The idea of bumping off miscreants and burying them in the woods (or just leaving them for the crocs) isn't without its appeal either.
Feral State knows it was never designed to be a Hollywood blockbuster and, just like the similar Deathwell, sensibly snips itself off around the 1h 20min mark - just before you've had enough but when you're curious to know more.
Plot summary
Tucked far away from the white sandy beaches and amusement parks is a Florida that few outsiders ever see. Nestled alongside the gator infested swamps and rundown trailer parks lives a charismatic yet dangerous grifter named MACK MONROE (Ronnie Gene Blevins) who takes in orphans and runaways off the street. A self proclaimed father to the forgotten, Mack gives these lost souls only semblance of a home they've ever known - but at what cost? Mack trains his ragtag gang in the art of thievery and crime, filling their vulnerable minds with vigilante gospels and together wreak havoc by knocking off drug dealers and meth labs. Hot on their tail is DETECTIVE ELLIS (AnnaLynne McCord),an ass-kicking tough as nails cop who not only fights crime, but is also forced to fight for respect in a patriarchal police force. Mack and the gang's world gets flipped upside down with the arrival of a mysterious young girl, who at first seems like the perfect new recruit but turns out to be something far more dangerous than anyone could have imagined.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Raw, nasty and good
boring
This is a boring movie for sure. The best thing about it is AnnaLynne McCord.
Looked promising
It's a fairly decent directorial debut for newb writer and producer Jon Carlo. Had the story been less convoluted and had more continuity, this could have been a cult classic. At the end you're left shaking your head, and wanting closure.
The 84 min runtime was decent, but the pacing needed improvement, especially due to the "all over the place writing".
The score was decent for a b-film, and the cinematography on point. Casting was good, although I found Ronnie Gene Blevins a little annoying and unconvincing in his role, as was AnnaLynne McCord. Perhaps it was from the inexperience of Carlo directing his cast properly. However, first-time actress Sif Saga as Lexi was outstanding - a real natural I'd say her performance was the best of them all.
Overall an ok one-time watch b-film. It's a 5/10 from me.