Rating: 4/5 stars

If you are looking for a movie that will make you audibly gasp and laugh at the same time, look no further than thriller movie “Cocaine Bear,” starring Alden Ehrenreich (“Fair Play”), Keri Russel (“Antlers”), O’Shea Jackson Jr. (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”), and the late Ray Liotta (“Black Bird”). “Cocaine Bear” is a movie that will have you talking about what you just watched as you leave the theater.

The movie is loosely based on the real-life situation that occurred in the state of Georgia in 1985. A bear was found dead with 75 pounds of cocaine in its system. The movie answers the question, ‘what would it be like if the bear who ingested that cocaine survived?’ Some characters put themselves purposefully in danger in order to find cocaine while others are innocent people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, opening up further questions on how to prepare yourself for bear encounters and how to prevent the worst from happening. 

This film had low expectations with audiences believing that it would be a movie making fun of itself, just like “Sharknado,” but quickly blew those expectations out of the water. While the gore can be heavy, the actors steal the show with multiple one-liners which the audience cannot help but laugh at. Unlike “Sharknado,” the bear in this movie looks realistic to a black bear walking through a forest. Some shots will have you in awe of the beauty within Wicklow County, Ireland, where the movie was filmed, although the movie’s setting is Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. Some scenes sounded realistic as well, with the sound of bones breaking underneath the jaw of a black bear being hard to unhear.

The rating of ‘R’ is appropriate for the movie, with violence, cursing, blood and drugs all being reoccuring themes during the entirety of the one hour and 45 minute motion picture. Viewer discretion is advised if you squirm at the sight of blood or fatal injuries; this movie is probably not for you. 

The film community always feels the pain of losing a great talent. “Cocaine Bear” ended up being the last film Liotta was in before he passed away in May 2022. Liotta ends his career with an antagonist role, which was his specialty. He had played villains such as a mobster in “Goodfellas” and Hannibal Lector in “Hannibal.” His role in this movie was a drug dealer who had just lost the cocaine that was spread throughout Chattahoochee National Forest. 

This movie is a perfect watch if you are looking for something to grab your attention while also making you want to look away from some bloody scenes. “Cocaine Bear” is one of the better movies when it comes to animals acting out of the ordinary. This movie is not the best, having its own flaws, but the dark humor and memorable scenes make up for areas the movie may be lacking in. This is a movie you can watch once and always remember, and it is definitely worth watching. 

Image from Universal studios via YouTube