Fantastic Fest consistently offers its participants a diverse and entertaining selection of films, often featuring a wild and unusual variety. Coyotes is an utterly absurd film, but it is usually funny and sometimes suspenseful. It is a B-movie that makes no pretensions about what it is delivering, and that, alone, is part of the fun. The entire cast delivers earnest performances, which is a typical element that makes B-movies so lovable. This movie has a lot of heart, despite its ridiculousness, and Justin Long’s performance helps sell it, making for a fun horror-comedy experience.
Justin Long stars as Scott, an awkward yet caring father and husband to his wife, Liv (Kate Bosworth), and their teenage daughter, Chloe (Mila Harris). On a particularly wild night, a ravenous pack of coyotes begins ravaging their Hollywood Hills neighborhood, forcing Scott and his family to take shelter in their home. Still, things go frighteningly wrong as they have few options to escape, especially after their neighbor’s home goes up in flames and starts an out-of-control wildfire.
While all of these elements sound rather harrowing and disturbing, writers Ted Daggenhart and Nick Simon, along with director Colin Minihan, manage to inject plenty of humor into the proceedings. While I felt some sense of urgency, I also found myself amused by the comedy that plays off the flaws and issues of the characters, who are obviously unprepared for what is happening and totally out of their element.
The result is rather silly, and if one can accept that, you are in for a fun time. Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, and Mila Harris are all funny and have the perfect chemistry to bring their performances as a realistic family to life. I was, though, rather impressed with actor Norbert Leo Butz, who portrays the problematic neighbor who is in a different mindset from that of his neighbors. I also enjoyed the acerbic wit of actor Brittany Allen, who portrays Trip’s current companion for the night.
Coyotes isn’t a fantastic movie, but it is an enjoyable one. I would not recommend spending movie ticket prices to watch it in the theater, but it is a very likable film to enjoy at home during the Halloween season.
Coyotes is now playing in select theaters.