Read our interview with RED screenwriter Stephen Susco here.


After making the rounds of various film festivals, including Sundance, the film adaptation of Jack Ketchum's novel RED is being shown on the cable service OnDemand, from now until August 7th. The film is also going to get a limited theatrical run in four cities on August 8th, but since most people are probably going to see this movie on pay TV, I figured I would do the review now.

RED is one of Ketchum's most beloved novels, mainly because it is concerned with the rights of animals, an issue that is very close to Mr. Ketchum's heart. His love of cats and dogs is well known, and has popped up in several of his short stories. Curiously, RED is also one of this author's least violent novels. For someone who is best known for such disturbing classics as THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, OFF SEASON, and WEED SPECIES, RED is rather low on the gore meter. But it is a solid, satisfying story.

RED is the tale of Avery Ludlow (Brian Cox), an old man who lost his wife two years before, and whose best friend is his dog, Red. Red's an old dog, but Avery has had him since he was a puppy (his wife had given the dog to him as a present on his 50th birthday), and they have been growing old together. There is a very strong bond between dog and master. One day, while fishing, Avery is approached by three kids who claim to be hunting, but who are actually looking for trouble. When they try to rob Avery, and find that he does not have much money on him, one of the kids, Danny (Noel Fisher) shoots Avery's dog out of spite. "He's red now!" the kid shouts as he and his friends leave the scene, laughing. The rest of the story is about Avery's attempts to get justice for the death of his best friend.

At first, he uses the normal channels that are available to him. He finds out who the boy is by tracking down where he bought his brand and gauge of rifle, and then goes to the boy's home to speak with his father, Michael McCormack (Tom Sizemore) one of the town's wealthier citizens, who made his money in the trucking business. McCormack, however, decides to believe his son's word over Avery's and he tells the old man to be on his way.

Unable to get satisfaction from the boy's father, Avery investigates his legal options, but learns that the killing of a dog is just a misdemeanor and wouldn't entail much of a fine or jail time. A civil suit wouldn't yield much justice, either, but Avery goes this route, feeling helpless otherwise. All he wants is for the boy to acknowledge what he did, and show some remorse. But it is clear early on that this is not going to happen willingly.

It is around this time that Avery meets Carrie Donnel (Kim Dickens from DEADWOOD), a television reporter who is also an animal lover, and who sees Avery's situation as a touching human interest story. She gives him a forum to say his peace. But his appearing on television to tell his story leads to a ratcheting up of the violence, when someone (obviously, Danny) throws a threatening note attached to a rock through his window. From here on, things get more and more violent, as Avery refuses to let the issue rest, and his adversaries go to more and more vicious means to make him back off.

The movie version of RED is a well-acted story of a man and his fight for justice. Directed by Lucky McKee and Trygve Allister Diesen (McKee started the film and Diesen completed it, but it is pretty much seamless), the movie rises or falls on the strength of the man playing Avery, and they've found the perfect actor in Brian Cox. Cox, a prolific actor who has appeared in dozens of films, including 1995's BRAVEHEART, David Fincher's ZODIAC (2007), and the HBO original series DEADWOOD, brings the right amount of stoicism and strength to the role, and is always extremely watchable. I've enjoyed his work for a long time now, and thought RED was a perfect showcase for his talent.

The entire supporting cast does a fine job, and the story slowly builds suspense and drama throughout, as it moves toward its violent conclusion. In fact, this film is so well-made and above-average that I find myself perplexed as to why it couldn't get a normal theatrical release, at least in art movie houses throughout the country. It may not be a big, Hollywood blockbuster, but RED is a great little indie film that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.
Ketchum has had very good luck so far with film adaptations of his work. THE LOST, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, and now RED are faithful adaptations, by filmmakers who clearly respect the source material. Let's hope this winning streak continues.

So, if your cable system offers films OnDemand, and RED is among the offerings, do yourself a favor and check it out. Whether you are a long-time Ketchum fan, or just a fan of good movies, you're bound to enjoy this one a lot.