
Genre: Thriller, comedy
A black bear gets high on cocaine and kills everyone. That’s the simple, yet extremely outlandish premise of the recently released thriller Cocaine Bear.
The story follows a black bear that consumes a large amount of cocaine and embarks on a drug-fuelled murder rampage, all while the drug smugglers chase after it in search of their drugs.
The storyline also includes a mother who fights off the bear’s attacks while in search of her daughter in the forest.
The movie is loosely based on a true story of a real bear that ingested about 34kg of lost cocaine after smugglers dropped the bags from a plane.
Initially, director Elizabeth Banks keeps the story true to events but explores her creative discretion as the film progresses.
The cinematography is excellent with many fun shots of the bear getting up to its intoxicated antics. The score of the film complements the drama and adds to the comedic feel of the various scenes.
The first couple of minutes of the film gives the illusion of a simple, silly film of the adventures of a high bear.
Many of the bear murders happen off the screen at first, but at some point, the censorship ends and viewers are made to watch as the bear bites off people’s arms, legs, and other body parts.
If you don’t have the stomach for gory horror, this film isn’t for you.
The special effects and CGI employed to create the bear are well executed as demonstrated in the occasional life-like gestures the bear makes.
Cocaine Bear does require a certain level of suspended belief to fully enjoy it, but it’s a good movie to pass the time with.
The movie is available for streaming on Hulu! and will be released on streaming platforms in SA later this year.