Studio: Arrow Video
Release Date: 1/27/2026
Rating: NR, but I'd say it's an R
Film Grade: B+
The Story: Craig’s life is not going great. A new dad, he’s just been served an eviction notice, his writing career is in the toilet, and he’s about to lose his job as an oil change technician. Stopping by a bar on the way home to take off some of the edge, he bumps into his old high school buddy, Vince. As they’re catching up, a couple invites them over to their table. You see, it’s Violet’s birthday and husband Colin wants to show her a good time by livening things up. He offers $50 to the first one to drink a shot of tequila, which Vince downs before Craig can even comprehend the offer.
To amuse Violet, Colin keeps upping the ante with bolder challenges, first at the bar, then a strip joint, and eventually on to their posh house. The money and dares escalate, leaving Craig and Vince to decide how much their dignity is worth.
My Take: I remember seeing the trailer for this movie when it first came out, making sure to look out for it once it was available to rent from Netflix (yes, they were still sending out discs in those days). Sadly, it never became available, but for me to remember a trailer from over a decade ago says something about how intriguing and interesting of a setup it is.
Thankfully, Arrow has given us a brand-new release of this clever little dark comedy that seems as relevant today as it was when it first released. Fueled by family obligations, just how much of himself would a man be willing to give up? That’s the central theme of the film, and it explores this in a darkly funny and disturbing way. It may even be more fitting today, in the age of people regularly making fools of themselves on TikTok and other social media platforms.
The script for this 88-minute feature is tight, filled with clever dialog built around four main characters. Craig is played by Pat Healy as a shy nebbish encapsulating a normal guy unsure of how to get out of the hole he’s put his family in, making him the perfect player for the twisted game that lies ahead of him. In contrast, Ethan Embry gives Vince an edgy persona, a man prone to action rather than thought. Together, they give the two pals exactly the kind of relationship you’d expect years after drifting apart from their high school days.
The happy go lucky hosts are played by David Koechner and Sara Paxton. The Colin character will seem familiar to fans of The Office; think of the obnoxiously gregarious field salesman, Todd Packer, but with lots and lots of money and a questionable past. While Paxton’s role of Violet doesn’t have a lot of dialog, one can’t help but take notice of her performance, mostly in her eyes and facial expressions. It’s a great example of non-verbal acting.
In the original script from Trent Haaga (based on a short by Roald Dahl) the situation was setup in a more serious way. David Chirchirillo modified it by adding the humor but without softening any blows. E.L. Katz takes that story and blends it with the four cast members, who give lively and revealing performances far above what one might expect for this kind of film. Beneath the crazy surface it really brings out unexpected moments of reflection around manipulation, power dynamics, competition, and resentment that are core parts of human and societal relationships.
When listening to the extras, more than one of the people behind or in front of the camera mentioned how this is an examination of how Capitalism fails people. That sentiment is also echoed in the accompanying booklet's essays. And while I can see that perspective, it’s not overt in the movie itself. It also sells the central themes short. Since it deals with the haves and the have nots, along with class envy and desperation, the drivers are absolutely worldwide. This movie could be set in any country at any modern time and it would be just as applicable. Sure, the settings, props, and incidentals would need to be changed. But there will always be people upset with their lot in life seeking a way to get ahead. And there will always be people looking to use others for their own purposes. It’s timeless and universal, which is why it works so very well.
The irony here is that the film came out of a Capitalist society, and would have been much harder to make, if made at all, in some alternative socio-economic structure.
Visuals: This is a great looking Blu-ray, with reds looking particularly vibrant in the bar and strip club. Much of the movie takes place at the couple’s home, with a good use of contrast and mood lighting. The camera work features lots of loose movement and closeups, giving the viewer a prime spot for watching all of the action and catching the nuances in the performances.
Audio: The disc comes with the original 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix and is about what you would expect. There’s a fun moment involving a home stereo system that those of us here will nod in acknowledgment to. Dialog is always clear and intelligible. There’s a variety of music that fits the mood. For example, the song playing in the bar switches at just the right time to underscore Craig’s plight. Bass is not ignored either, as there are a few moments that will get your attention.
Special Features: As with other Arrow releases, this one is packed with goodies. There’s a bunch of information about how it all came together from script inception to the challenges of shooting on a low budget and tight schedule. Well worth exploring for anyone wanting deeper insight into the film. The new interviews give you a chance to catch up with the cast and gain some insight into their performances and relationships (they weren’t all friendly). Amazingly, Koechner doesn’t seem to have aged a day since the film’s production.
- Brand new audio commentary by film critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Audio commentary with director E.L. Katz and actor Pat Healy
- With Friends Like These, a newly filmed interview with director E.L. Katz and producer Travis Stevens
- Money Talks, a newly filmed interview with actors Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, David Koechner, and Sara Paxton
- Double Down, a newly filmed interview with writers Trent Haaga and David Chirchirillo
- Ketchup, Cheese, and (Fake) Blood, a newly filmed interview with special effects/make up artist Hugo Villaseñor
- Vital Heat: The Making of Cheap Thrills, an archive featurette
- Cheap Thrills at Fantastic Film Festival 2013, an archive featurette
- Theatrical trailer
- Cheap Shots, a gallery of photos taken by Sara Paxton's character, Violet, as seen in the film
- On-set production photos
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
- Collectors' booklet featuring new writing on the film by Heather Wixson and Matt Donato
Final Verdict: Desperate times will lead to desperate acts. In this case, they’re a fine mixture of humorous, absurd, disgusting, and repulsive. The story moves quickly, never overtly dwelling on its underlying themes, but they’re such a part of the story that one can’t help but reflect on them. How much of one’s dignity and humanity are worth sacrificing for financial gain or survival? The black humor elements help relieve some of the darkness of the story, making it all that more effective.
My wife thought the movie felt similar to Trading Places and to me it felt more like The Hangover, at least in tone not plot. When it was over, she turned to me and said that she didn’t know anyone who would do what the two characters put themselves through for the amount of money being offered. I quickly rattled off half a dozen names, and she came to the disturbing conclusion that there are those out there, some who we know personally, that would make those same decisions. Maybe even for less cash. Do desperation and greed drive people to do things they wouldn’t normally do, or does it loosen the chains, allowing us to see who they really are?
This is a fine example of a small movie that knows exactly what it is, and does it very well. So well done that I added a + to my original grade when rewatching it for the technical details. Highly recommended for anyone that’s a fan of dark humor mixed with twisted mayhem. The trailer gives away some, but not all of the plot, and is an excellent indicator of whether or not you’ll like the movie.
Fun Quote: "What kind of sick birthday present would that be? It's her birthday, Vince."
WARNING: Trailer includes expletives, so NSFW!My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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