Right off the bat, the bizarre title of this film might throw you for a loop. However, the plot of this comedic horror film certainly lives up to the title. And, it’s (loosely) based on a true story.
The film is set in the 80s and begins with a drug runner dumping loads of illegal drugs from his plane, which appears to be crashing, in an attempt to salvage them. Little did he know, these duffel bags of cocaine were falling into a forest that’s home to a massive black bear who would end up going on a killing rampage over the fallen narcotics. While the plot of this movie sounds like a terrifying nightmare come true, director Elizabeth Banks makes this outlandish plot a hilarious slapstick comedy.
So, why is this movie worth the hype? For one, we see a variety of terrific actors starring in this film. Some familiar faces include Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and several other actors that make this hilarious film one you will be talking about for weeks. While this movie may have a silly tone to it, the production, nostalgia of the 80s, and impressive CGI make “Cocaine Bear” a film you will never forget.
While technically, this movie is based on a true story, the storyline very loosely relates to real-life events. The idea for the film was based on an investigation done in 1985 where a medical examiner conducted an autopsy on a 175-pound black bear who, he later came to find out, died from a massive overdose of cocaine. Unlike the film where the bear is portrayed as a deranged murder machine, the real-life cocaine bear did not kill anybody on its drug spree. According to USA Today, the real-life cocaine bear has been taxidermied and is on display inside a mall in Kentucky.
If you’re looking for a fun, hilarious and unorthodox movie to watch this weekend, grab some friends and head to your local theater to see “Cocaine Bear.” Gruesome yet entertaining, this film is most definitely worth the buzz that it has been creating.
“Cocaine Bear” is available to watch in theatres. You can watch the trailer here.