Hocked

Spoiler-free zone, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this snippet of dialogue was more than just a throwaway-line in the script. Watching Hocked, it becomes quickly apparent that "the little details" are a calling card for this no-budget film, and a guiding light which the filmmakers followed during every aspect of making this movie. Which is why, after finally getting a chance to watch Drake's creation, I had to share my thoughts.

In the world of no-budget film-making, a few key aspects always reign supreme. The first, of course, is story: when large-scale effects and intricate set pieces are at a premium, a solid storyline can smooth even the roughest edges and transform a labor of love into a cult classic. Hand-in-hand with that come dialogue and character-work, and closing out the list is the technical skill of visual storytelling. It is apparent from the opening moments of this film Mr. Drake was well aware of all three of these ingredients and mixed them appropriately throughout his debut film. In a true tribute to independent and cult cinema, he combines a dash of El Mariachi's drifting musician, day workers killing time with intriguing trivial debates à la Clerks, and a wrong place, wrong time, protagonist in the spirit of The Big Lebowski, then throws the whole simmering mess into the confined settings of a snowy mountain town. Chaos, appropriately, ensues.

Having seen this movie twice, I can fully endorse a second viewing in order to fully capture every moment of subtle humour as well as the key punchlines placed throughout the movie. Payoffs, call-backs, and homages abound, and you're guaranteed to miss something worthwhile with a one-and-done viewing experience. The story has a lot of moving parts, and while it would have been easy for the film to get bogged down chasing each individual thread, Drake does a solid job of staying true to his through-line, keeping the plot moving forward while adding enough peripheral spice to tease a world of interest lurking just beyond our POV. The film also sports a number of colorful, multi-dimensional characters who truly breathe life into the script (I understand this film was based on the true experiences of running a pawn shop, which makes every moment that much more enjoyable), and Drake does a commendable job coaxing out every ounce of entertainment value from their performances.

Hocked is also served well by Drake's strong camerawork, with his snow-covered surroundings delivering an instantly-striking canvas on which to stage this comedy-crime narrative. Throughout the story his visual vocabulary is constantly on display. From a faced paced jump-cut of an opening credit sequence to a sniper hidden in the desolate landscape of snowy Montana, to flipping back and forth from a cinematic viewpoint to surveillance footage during an interrogation scene, Drake is constantly adapting to keep each scene unique. His fast-paced editing style is heightened by the commendable makeup work provided by fellow producer Rachel Franz, whose dedication to the craft pays off with an assortment of effects which would feel at home anywhere in Hollywood. Swollen and bruised hands, racoon-eyed drug pushers, and bloodied faces parade throughout the entirety of the film, adding a visceral element which perfectly complements Hocked's unflinching sense of humor. It is worth noting that like any no-budget film, the movie is not perfect and does contain a few areas that are less impactful than others. In particular, despite the strong performances from the vast majority of the cast (Ledoux's Lanny and Drake's portrayal of the main protagonist stand up to scrutiny particularly well), there remains the occasional clumsy delivery or halt in intensity-- however, these moments could easily be attributed to the idiosyncrasies of individual characters, and do little to detract from the narrative flow. Also, while the sound quality remained highly consistent for the most part, there are occasional lines of dialogue that could have benefited from a bump in volume. On the other hand, the original score from composer Max Brown is nothing short of brilliant, and perfectly sets the tone and feel for the entirety of the film. It is clear that for every limitation the filmmakers faced, there is an obvious strength that sets this film apart from the pitfalls of most other no-budget productions.

All-in-all, Hocked does a masterful job weaving offbeat workplace humour with an intricate, character-driven plot positively stuffed with iconic characters and corrupt officials-- all while somehow managing to layer in a commentary on the challenges of running a family-owned business in today's modern economy, and ending with one of the most unexpectedly-epic joke payoffs I've ever seen put on screen. Truly, Hocked is a film which defies convention, and it does so in the most entertaining, endearing way possible. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough, and fully expect to see Drake and team continue to fine-tune their craft with every project to come. The future is bright for Single Six Media, and I cannot wait to see that they come up with next.