“Dedicated to landlords everywhere”, Robert DeBoucher and Ethan Spotts’s micro-budget thriller Rolling displays a lot of ambition and a commendable “go for broke” attitude. To paraphrase a recent review I read of Supergirl, it’s punk rock without really trying. And, since I mentioned the DC disaster, this tiny, very distant cinematic cousin happens to be way more entertaining, on a millionth of the budget. I’d rather watch an inspired “cheapie” like this one than a bloated, recycled, message-carrying Hollywood superhero blockbuster any day.
Split into chapters, the plot takes us on a frenzied, hallucinogenic ride. Alice (Cora Cleary) lives in a small apartment with her stoned girlfriend Viv (Vaune Suitt). She quits her day job as a mechanic, just in time for their landlord to raise rent. When they confront the said “scumbag landlord” on his extravagant boat, things go terribly awry. Yes, I’m talking murder, which leads to mafia involvement, drug sealer involvement, and our two heroes getting into major shenanigans that are best left unspoiled.
“I’m getting hints of oak and citrus,” a character says. “I’m getting hints of dogsh*t,” comes the deadpan reply. “These white kids are crazy, man,” another character later comments. “Aren’t you half-white?” she’s asked. “Shut up,” she snaps. Crime family members argue over bigotry. A sadistic killer murders a dude who wears a gas mask bong. You can tell the filmmakers and cast had a blast and share a good, if somewhat sick, sense of humor. The plot propels along at a nice pace, and there are welcome visual flourishes, like a screwdriver flying through the air in slow-motion.
“Rolling is punk rock without really trying, and all the better for it.”
Composer Zach Simao’s unnerving score gets under your skin. Cinematographer Brandon Dougherty employs a rather unusual, retro, grainy style that blends seamlessly with the aforementioned embellishments. There are several moments in the film, and they may seem small and insignificant, but these are the moments when all the elements fall together, such as the highly atmospheric scene of Alice and Viv just driving to their next destination during a dusty twilight in their convertible, or the following nightclub scene — pure visual energy.
The two leads are compelling; the film sags when it strays away from them for too long. The actors become more confident in their roles as the film progresses (the same can be said of the general narrative), as if it were filmed in sequential order. But a crazed plot like this needs a lead who would at least somewhat ground it in reality, and this one has two — along with several pretty great supporting turns from a game cast.
Some frenzied editing, wild overacting, and general amateurish vibes are all forgivable, even adding to the grindhouse feel of the entire affair. Moments of wit are hard to pull off, and this film does so several times, with aplomb. I’d love to see what DeBoucher and Spotts could do with a bigger budget, given what they did with clearly next-to-nothing. Roll with the punches, roll a nice big blunt, and you may just have a blast with Rolling.
"…general amateurish vibes are all forgivable, even adding to the grindhouse feel..."
