Billed as a horror film, I don’t think that Cheap Thrills is that, despite one very gruesome sequence. It is more a suspense film in the style of ‘After Hours’ or ‘House of Games’.
Pat Healy and Ethan Embry star as Craig and Vince, two ex school friends who bump into each other in a bar. Both with serious money problems, they go along with fellow customer Colin’s (David Koechner) dares in exchange for cash. As those tasks escalate, it becomes obvious that the film is only going to end in one way.
With its small cast and limited number of sets, this feels like a filmed play in some ways, though the level of violence is not something you’d usually see on a stage! All three leads are good value. Healy convinces as the family man desperate for cash and Koechner gives a career best performance (until next year’s ‘Scouts v Zombies’, at least!) Also, Sara Paxton does well as Colin’s wife in what is a quite underwritten role.
A good solid, little low budget movie.
Rating 6 out of 10