In 1989, in the east of Texas, Ann Dane (Vinessa Shaw) overhears a noise during the night and awakes her husband Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall). He picks up his gun and stumbles with a burglar in the living room and accidentally shoots and kills the intruder. He is identified by the police as the wanted criminal Freddy Russell, but Richard is affected by the incident. Richard goes to the cemetery to see Freddy's burial and his father Ben Russell (Sam Shepard), who is also a criminal on parole, talks to Richard and asks for his son. Richard brings his son from the school and meets his wife at the police station, but the police inspector Ray Price (Nick Damici) cannot do anything to help him. Soon Richard finds that someone has broken in his house and the police officers stake out the place. However Ben breaks in the house but escapes. Ray calls Richard to tell him that Ben was arrested in Mexico and the case is closed. While leaving the station, he sees a picture of Freddy Russell and he realizes that he is not the burglar. Richard unsuccessfully calls Ray and he decides to go to the station during the night. He witnesses Ray and other officers taken Ben away in a car and leaving him on the train tracks after hitting him. Richard saves Ben and brings him to an isolated cabin that belonged to his father. After proving that the buried corpse is not Freddy, Richard teams up with Ben and his friend, the private investigator Jim Bob (Don Johnson), to seek out Freddy and find who has been killed, and the trio is involved with a gang that makes pornographic snuff movies.
"Cold in July" is a surprisingly good thriller, with a violent story in the style of Quentin Tarantino, where police officers are dirty and felon may be good-hearted. The amazing cast has three great actors: Michael C. Hall, from Dexter, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson and the dark and tense story has a well-written screenplay and good plot points. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Julho Sangrento" ("Bloody July")
