Cheap Thrills (2013)

A scheming couple put a struggling family man and his old friend through a series of increasingly twisted dares over the course of an evening at a local bar.

Director:

E.L. Katz

Writers:

David Chirchirillo, Trent Haaga

Stars:

Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton

9 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pat Healy	...	Craig Daniels
Sara Paxton	...	Violet
Ethan Embry	...	Vince
David Koechner	...	Colin
Amanda Fuller	...	Audrey Daniels
Laura Covelli	...	Caryn the Bartender
Todd Farmer	...	Security Guard
Elissa Dowling	...	Tweaker
Eric Neil Gutierrez	...	Enrique
Ruben Pla	...	Doug
Claudia Salinas	...	Stripper
Brighton Sharbino	...	Luann
Eli McLaughlin	...	Keenan
Butch	...	Cutie

Storyline

Craig (Pat Healy) is a struggling family man who loses his low-wage job and is threatened with eviction. In an effort to delay facing the music at home, he heads to a local bar and runs into an old friend (Ethan Embry). The 2 are roped into a round of drinks by a charismatic and obscenely wealthy stranger (David Koechner) along with his mysterious wife (Sara Paxton). The couple engages the pair friends in a series of innocent dares in exchange for money over the course of the evening, with each challenge upping the ante in both reward and boundaries. It seems like easy and much needed money, but the couple's twisted sense of humor pushes just how far Craig and his friend are willing to go for money and cheap thrills.

---

Plot Keywords:

extramarital affair | adultery | unfaithfulness | sex | masturbation | 

---

Taglines:

What doesn't kill you makes you richer.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The eviction notice on Craig's door reveals that his address is 303 Reno Pl, Apartment 207 B.

---

Goofs

When Vince is challenged to hold his breath, after Craig speaks to Audrey on the phone Colin announces that Vince's time was 1 minute, 59 seconds. Later, when Vince asks what his time was, Colin says his time was 1 minute, 58 seconds. A difference of one second is significant in the context of the challenge.

---

Connections

Featured in Half in the Bag: Cheap Thrills and the Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

---

Soundtracks

Runaway Train
Written by: Chris Wollard
Performed by: Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves
Courtesy of: No Idea Records

User Reviews

Simply Intense and Surprisingly Smart.

I did not expect to like this movie, but It slowly pulled me in with it's desperation, humor, horror, and ethical dilemmas.

Cheap Thrills has a little story, but it's big in suspense, intrigue, and insanity.

This movie excels at dark humor. Although the story becomes increasingly ridiculous, the character reactions are grounded enough that it makes the mayhem seem entirely plausible.

There's also a subtle depth to the movie that begs to be explored. It's thought provoking while being mostly entertaining.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cheap Thrills

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,638, 23 March 2014

Gross USA:

$59,424

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$59,424

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Artists Alliance, Snowfort Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1