Coldwater

How do you raise a child who is behaving badly? A teenage boy who is violent at home and rebellious in the streets? Hundreds of films have been dedicated to answering this question. Some movie parents enforce strict rules to set their kid straight. Others mask their fear by giving in, being cool, letting shit slide. Many attempt to introduce a positive new variable, such as a competitive sport or a noble trade.

The parents represented in the fantastic and chilling new indie film, Coldwater, are different. Having suffered their son’s misdeeds, they call a private organization and arrange for their son to be sent to a juvenile camp called Coldwater. “Sent” isn’t exactly the proper word, as we see early in the film, a young man named Brad (newcomer P.J. Boudousqué) is abducted from his home, thrown into the back of a large van, and taken to the isolated Coldwater compound. Once there, Brad and a handful of other inmates (that’s the proper word, believe me) are introduced to Frank Reichert (James C. Burns), a retired Marine Corps Colonel who oversees the grounds.

Reichert is stern, imposing, and unafraid to enforce harsh penalties. His requirement of the boys is simple: show progress by proving a sense of responsibility and discipline, and you’ll be sent home a reformed young man. Keep with your unruly, don’t-give-a-fuck attitudes, and you’ll suffer the consequences. Reichert is backed by a few juiced-up workers who can barely contain their eagerness to begin breaking the new inmates down. These men, it turns out, are all former inmates of Coldwater. The prisoners, in effect, are now the guards.

But then something interesting happens. After Reichert’s introductory spiel, I expected the guards to break bad right away. But they didn’t. Sure, there are loud screams and long runs in the heat, but nothing inherently dangerous occurs. Coldwater is very careful in its reveals – showing us just enough to establish and maintain a consistent unease. The film also, wisely, doesn’t paint Reichert as a villain, or Brad as a martyr. These are two deeply flawed men whose problems are revealed patiently. Reichert is shown being capable of expressing sympathy, while the film’s extensive flashbacks remind us why Brad’s parents sent him to Coldwater in the first place.

Slowly and fiercely, the film does begin to change. Those in charge adopt more hostile attitudes, while the boys do everything to survive. I’m cautious to reveal more, because so much of this film surprised me in the best possible way. For example, Coldwater isn’t a movie hell bent on brutality. The film contains violence, certainly, but it isn’t crude torture porn. In fact, the most shocking thing in the entire picture was a midway title card revealing how long Brad had been at the facility. Truly, the film is far more emotionally brutal than it is physically cruel.

As Brad, P.J. Boudousqué is a stirring revelation. Coldwater was his first acting role, and he carries the movie with sheer confidence. Comparisons to Ryan Gosling are likely, given Boudousqué’s uncanny resemblance to a young Gosling. But Boudousqué also embodies the fiery intensity Gosling has become known for. Since making Coldwater (the film was shot in 2012 and hit the festival circuit last year), Boudousqué has booked a few single episodes on various television shows. That’s all well and good, but this guy deserves more. Many young actors fight to find that one perfect role that displays the best of their abilities, while, hopefully, making them a household name. Coldwater was Boudousqué’s first at bat, and the kid crushed it. It’s up to us to take notice.

Coldwater was co-written and directed by Vincent Grashaw, who spent 10 years researching the type of camps that Coldwater is based on. (Sadly, yes, they do indeed exist.) Coldwater is Grashaw’s first feature film, yet it is the work of a seasoned professional. He has a keen eye for stark composition, and a distinct insight into narrative fluctuation. He knows just how much to reveal in a flashback, and when to tell his present story straight, or when to effectively mix up a sequence of events. In every aspect of the filmmaking process – from casting to editing – Grashaw has proven he’s aware of what to say and how to best say it.

If you’ve ever attended a film festival, you’ve likely seen a movie like Coldwater. A movie that makes the rounds, acquires a steady buzz along the way, then inexplicably vanishes. Festival praise and positive word of mouth simply weren’t enough for Coldwater, and now the film is struggling to find an audience via On Demand outlets.

                                                                                                       

Searching for a new film On Demand can be daunting. It’s often much easier to choose a film starring people we’re familiar with. But quality films made by people we’ve never heard of do indeed exist. The difficult part is weeding them out. This review has been my best attempt at that. Not only does Coldwater deserve to be seen, but it merits discussion as well. Sadly, that’s not the case for many films made today. But here’s one just waiting to be discovered. A-

Coldwater is currently available to rent on iTunes

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