Cold in July

Name: Cold in July
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 23, 2014
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Don Johnson, Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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COLD IN JULY

Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

IFC Films | Release Date: May 23, 2014

Starring: Don Johnson, Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw

Summary: How can a split-second decision change your life? While investigating noises in his house one balmy Texas night in 1989, Richard Dane puts a bullet in the brain of a low-life burglar, Freddy Russell. Although he’s hailed as a small-town hero, Dane soon finds himself fearing for his family’s safety when Freddy’s ex-con father, Ben, rollsHow can a split-second decision change your life? While investigating noises in his house one balmy Texas night in 1989, Richard Dane puts a bullet in the brain of a low-life burglar, Freddy Russell. Although he’s hailed as a small-town hero, Dane soon finds himself fearing for his family’s safety when Freddy’s ex-con father, Ben, rolls into town; hell-bent on revenge. However, not all is as it seems. Shortly after Dane kills the home intruder, his life begins to unravel into a dark underworld of corruption and violence. Twists and turns continue to pile up as the film reaches its inevitable destination: a gore-soaked dead end. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Jim Mickle

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 109 min

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Awards & Rankings

99	#99 Most Shared Movie of 2014

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Critic Reviews

Village Voice - Ernest Hardy

May 20, 2014

While Hall and Shepard nail their parts, Don Johnson, still magnetic after all these years, steals the film as a sardonic private eye with a vintage cherry-red convertible. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

May 22, 2014

One of those movies that arrives every now and then with no fanfare but a canny sense of how to grab our attention and hold it in a tightening grip. Read full review

Arizona Republic - Bill Goodykoontz

May 29, 2014

It is a brutal, beautifully shot movie that starts out to be about revenge but then becomes something more, something even more primal and disturbing. Read full review

The Playlist - Rodrigo Perez

Apr 4, 2014

Cold In July doesn’t always work and it takes quite a long time to get adjusted to its coiling rhythm, but it’s far better than it has any right to be and perhaps, more significantly, is unusually absorbing and memorable. Read full review

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Calvin Wilson

May 29, 2014

Cold in July has all the qualifications of a midnight movie in the making. Read full review

USA Today - Scott Bowles

May 22, 2014

July is solid throwback storytelling, a crime yarn that may not blow you away but can cut to the bone. Read full review

CineVue - Daniel Green

May 21, 2014

Though not without merit, Cold In July finds Mickle happily stalled in front of the drive-in cinema screens of his youth. Let's just hope he can find the exit. Read full review

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User Reviews

scartwright49

Aug 1, 2014

A real thrill ride. The movie changes course quicker than you can believe. It keep you glued to the screen throughout. The three leads were fantastic.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Spangle

Apr 1, 2016

Cold in July is a fantastic crime thriller from director Jim Mickie with outstanding performances from Michael C. Hall and Sam Shephard. Mickie does a great job wringing tension out of the premise and the end result is that the viewer is constantly on pins and needles awaiting the next twistCold in July is a fantastic crime thriller from director Jim Mickie with outstanding performances from Michael C. Hall and Sam Shephard. Mickie does a great job wringing tension out of the premise and the end result is that the viewer is constantly on pins and needles awaiting the next twist the film is going to take. Once you think you have a grasp on where the film is headed, it frequently pulls the rug out from under you and changes course yet again. The film is incredibly detailed, right down to the different filters on the film, which transition from blue to gold to red in the film. It is really the defining factor in why this film has really fantastic look. The cinematography ain't too shabby either though. Overall, Cold in July is not perfect, but it is the exact kind of film that crime thriller fans are looking for and, beyond that, it is incredibly well crafted and is one that will definitely stick with you for a bit.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BrianMcCritic

Oct 1, 2014

A real interesting film that that works in almost every way. The performances are good and the story will keep you intrigued throughout, also the score was really cool. It was really close to an 8 but it's currently my highest 7 of the year. B+

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LowbrowCinema

Jun 1, 2014

Director Jim Mickle is creating a strong bounty of dark and seedy films that contemplate the American nightmare. COLD IN JULY is not as strong as his masterwork STAKELAND, but it haunts with its brooding tone and sense of sadness. COLD IN JULY is anchored by three wonderful performances fromDirector Jim Mickle is creating a strong bounty of dark and seedy films that contemplate the American nightmare. COLD IN JULY is not as strong as his masterwork STAKELAND, but it haunts with its brooding tone and sense of sadness. COLD IN JULY is anchored by three wonderful performances from Michael C. Hall, Sam Shephard, and especially the amazing Don Johnson who is at his best.

Mickle isolates his characters in a world that is never what it seems. Where issues are far more complex than one can imagination. In other words, unlike other "horror" filmmakers, Mickle is grounded in the profound and complex world of the real.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

car149tobase

Nov 22, 2015

It's a great history, plenty of turnarounds and spectacular suspense moments. The 80's synthpop soundtrack brings a good atmosphere for the movie. I do recommend it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Mar 24, 2016

Kind of so good till Jim Bob Luke's entry.

I'm glad I watched it, but if I had missed it, I would have not worried much. Anyway, you can't say like that until you watch any movie. This movie was excellent, I mean it for the first 40-45 minutes. So much twist and thrills, I was almostKind of so good till Jim Bob Luke's entry.

I'm glad I watched it, but if I had missed it, I would have not worried much. Anyway, you can't say like that until you watch any movie. This movie was excellent, I mean it for the first 40-45 minutes. So much twist and thrills, I was almost regretting for almost missing it. But once the character Jim Bob Luke was introduced in a grand style, the narration went off the track.

The best parts were over, I got lost interest, and I asked myself why it has to be like this after a wonderful opening? Especially for the character Dane who was a family man and his choice was completely wrong. As mush as Dane, I wanted to know who he shot, but that was not the story's intention to reveal and went in a different direction to disappoint me.

The guys (actors) were awesome, but the writing was a let down, it owes lots of explanation rather telling a decent story. It was an indie crime-thriller based on the novel of the same name, sets in the 1980s. I won't say the film was bad, but I enjoyed only the half movie, the first half.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Nowak

Aug 13, 2014

Great cast and a director from kinder surprise. What a pointless piece of work. It`s starts with questions and mistery and then John Cleese (almost) shows up and says: And now something completely different! Real waste of three great actors.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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