Story:  Three guys are so desperate for a little S-E-X that they travel to the boonies to get some from an internet hussy.  Except she’s a fundamentalist whackjob.  This is just the start of their up close look at the local hardcore fundamentalist church that has decided to take God’s justice into their own hands.

Scares:  Hey, extreme fundamentalism is scary, no doubt.  But this movie is more thriller than horror.

Splat factor:  Fundies with guns.  Yeah there’ll be blood, but it’s low-key.

Closing scene “shocker”?:  Nope.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: This one’s all original.

Trick or Treat?:  Last House on the Left + The Wild Bunch + Westboro Church + Waco = Red State.  Director Kevin Smith always has something to say, and his movies have served as a fun, entertaining way to serve up his beliefs.  This time he tackles hate crimes, internet sex, religious zealotry and political fuckwittage.  Red State has so much on it’s plate that it’s hard to keep up, which takes all the thrill out of this thriller.  It’s sometimes fun in a Peckinpah sort of way, which I’m guessing (hoping) is what Smith intended.  Too bad that none of the characters are developed beyond a paper cut-out.  With a bare-bones backstory for everyone, they’re just chess pieces Smith moves around.

With all the buzz surrounding this movie, from excitement over Smith’s first horror film to disgust at his behavior at Sundance (and I’m still trying to figure out the anti-Kevin hate for his decision to self-distribute), I was hoping for amazing, Dogma-like awesomeness.  No such luck.  Horror fans will be disappointed with the cop story switcharoo halfway in, and people who enjoy police thrillers and dramatic social commentary may be scared off by the horror flag this movie has been flying.  Red State tries to head in too many directions, and instead ends up chasing it’s own tail.  With a keener eye toward character and storyline, this could have been an amazing film.  Pity.

Score:    out of 5 pumpkins.