Red Right Hand

RED RIGHT HAND is a film I rather enjoyed, unlike a lot of reviewers here. Its a very small scale, low budget feel kind of movie, set in one of those rural towns in the American Midwest where an unlikely kingpin holds sway over the population. Andie McDowell, who I've never rated as an actress, does a fair approximation of evil in this against-type role, while Orlando Bloom also goes against type as the redneck hero unwittingly drawn back into her criminal schemes. Dillahunt has a fine supporting role as the town's preacher. The plot's familiar but the action is well handled and the film is admirably gritty. The final shoot-out in particular impresses.

This movie was a perfect example of how you can't trust most people's ratings. If you want an entertaining movie with a dark protagonist trying to be good but has to let his violent side back out for his family, then you'll like this movie. Orlando Bloom's performance was very good and I thought everyone else did a more than fine job. It did not feel like a B movie. It kept my attention the whole time and I didn't find myself checking my phone. People who are giving this anything less than a 6 are just pretentious and believe every movie has to be Oscar nominated. Just go into it knowing what you are getting and you will be entertained.

Red Right Hand (2024) is a gritty, violent, somewhat depressing film with enough understated woke elements to distract and leave audiences wondering how much better it could have been.

The film seems almost schizophrenic in attempting realism in a genre that naturally gravitates toward right wing elements. Two graphic scenes depict brutal interrogations, but conducted by the villains. The chief villain is played by a woman with an army of male henchmen and a kinky boytoy. The one good cop on a corrupt force is a black guy. There is a lot of storm-trooper style gunplay and other violence, but much of it is off-camera. A scene involving violence toward a female is handled so obliquely as to leave the audience wondering what, if anything, happened. A young girl is taught to use a rifle and a knife, but the hero often finds himself without a gun or without bullets.

Orlando Bloom is excellent playing a backwoodsman with a lot of conflicts. He delivers a highly credible, nuanced performance. Garret Dillahunt also delivers a very credible performance as the preacher/sidekick. Andie MacDowell plays the antagonist in an over-the-top two-dimensional comic-book mode. None of the male characters seem to have any current romantic partners, although one spends a lot of time pining over his dead wife. What passes as the B-story love angle is the platonic relationship between Cash (Bloom) and his niece, which occupies a lot of screen time without managing to be particularly interesting.

Production values are adequate. Scenery and costumes seem authentic. Overall, the movie is watchable, but not truly satisfying. It's too timid for action fans, but perhaps too gritty for drama fans. The lack of any romantic angles leaves the characters seeming incomplete.

Now, this is a fun, suspension-of-disbelief type film. It is so ludicrous, but I feel it only because of its setting and period. If this had been a modern take on a Spaghetti Western, I think people would take it as such and forgive its stupidity. In my imagination, I watched it as a Western; it seems to be a good story spoiled because of its setting. In the last year, there has been a shortage of good Westerns. Many cheap budget stinkers have been made, but little stands out. It has a good cast going full in and lots of blood, action, and shootouts. If you watch this as a Western (assuming you like them), you will get some satisfaction. It seems to be a recent trend of making modern set westerns in the present.

Starring Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Carribean) and Andie MacDowell (once such a beautiful and fine actress). With these 2 renowned names I was really curious if this movie could be worth a watch.

The bad: these 2 actors have had their finest days way behind them. Orlando Bloom doesnt impress at all as a red neck character. He even comes across a bit silly with his FAKE southern accent which doesnt suit him at all.

Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and lots of similar romantic comedies, was such a lovely fine actress back in the nineties. Unfortunately her once so pretty face looks like it was misfigured by a third degree burn accident now and while that misfugered face does suit her character, which is a vicious b8*!h, she still does look quite silly and laughable, which is the opposite effect that was desired. The other supporting actors are really only ever seen in terrible B-movies.

The worst thing about this cheaply produced B-movie is that it tries to take itself seriously, because it wants to be a hardhitting serious drama/thriller and it fails at achieving that completely.

To be avoided, especially for the fans of Orlando Bloom and Andie MacDowell. Such a shame that these 2 once wonderful actors lower themselves to these kind of B-movies...