Cold Ones Sneak Peek: Independent Film Review

One time novelist, turned English professor K.C. Corcoran's (C. Thomas Howell) world is rocked when his girlfriend dumps him. Instead of wallowing in grief, he uses the turn of events to seek refuge at a mountain cabin to reinvigorate the novelist he hope still resides within him.

It's a classic scenario. Howell's character gets a slap in the face; his girlfriend summarily dumps him, throws him out, warns him to take only clothing and pity money she gifts him. His teaching job is getting him nowhere - not even respect from his students - so what now? As a writer, he must write, but his sole minor novel came and went years ago. Time to head back to nature -the solitude, the fresh air - it will undoubtedly stir the imagination to summon the muse.

We've seen similar set-ups before, though mostly played for laughs. In Chevy Chase's Funny Farm, he's married, but like K.C., flees to the country to reclaim his writing and churn out a great American novel. The scenario is so recognizable to writers, perhaps because many have in fact tried it. Stephen King sought country quiet and reportedly his stay in The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, gave him the basic idea for his best selling novel The Shining.

Writer seeking refuge as central theme in Cold Ones, not only concerns K.C., but also a tight knit community he becomes preoccupied with as his attention wanders from an old manual typewriter, to sexy, troubled neighbor Juliet (Kristy Hinchcliffe). Juliet or Candy - depending on her mood or person you're talking to - is bewitchingly beautiful and a promising artist, but trapped in an abusive mockery of a marriage to violent truck driver Mack (Adam Nelson) whose long hauls enable K.C. and Candy to do more than innocently hike mountain trails.

Veteran character actress with perpetual schoolgirl quality, Kim Darby plays amongst solid actors, including Geoffrey Lewis and Joe Unger as a mechanic soaking K.C. for car repairs that never seem to finish. An absolute standout is burly Duane Whitaker as Buddy. Whittaker, a colorful town historian fills K.C. in on the mythology of the mountain folk, while impressing him with knowledge and love of literature, including K.C.'s own novel. Whittaker creates such a robust and likable character, I was disappointed not to hear more of Buddy's lively yarns. If Cold Ones was turned into a television series, Buddy would be lovable host and capable ringmaster to a rural zoo of zanies.

Kristy Hinchcliffe projects a sultry vulnerability, reminiscent of Laura Dern, but her acting is all her own. Adam Nelson's eternally angry Mack genuinely terrifies, yet never crosses into cliche. Finally, C. Thomas Howell gives a properly balanced performance. As K.C.'s predicament runs the course from comical, romantic to terrifying, Howell switches gears effortlessly and proves again why he's a favorite of mine. The performing instincts he brought to popular movies like The Hitcher and Soul Man, are quite alive here. When he wails to a rampaging Mack who just cold cocked him there's no guarantee about writing anything worthy, let alone selling it, Howell powerfully conveys not only his in the moment melancholy, but the larger canvas of a writer's ever speculative journey of sharing work with the world, or it languishing in obscurity.

Writer/director Garrett Clancy's Cold Ones is a satisfying cinematic journey. While it may play more powerfully to writers or artists seeking to balance survival with artistic pursuits, it remains a touching story on many levels. Ironically, it's the more clearly defined villain of the film, Mack who may sum it up most succinctly, "Everyone's gonna pay for their pleasures - one way or another!" - be it monetarily, emotionally or spiritually, Cold Ones pays off in exploring those areas skillfully.