As anyone who has seen writer-director S. Craig Zahler's directorial debut Bone Tomahawk would attest, Zahler is not in the business of making you comfortable or giving you easy answers. Bucking trend with sadistic glee and offering you murky, largely unsympathetic characters who only become marginally likeable because the 'bad guys' are even worse; his films are either riveting or frustrating, or both simultaneously. A homage to the sort of C-grade, straight-to-video, ultra-violent flick which peaked in popularity in the 80s, this sprawling crime saga will test the resolve of even the most patient or determined viewer; Zahler stretches any good will he has to absolute breaking point. There's an admirable quality to the ambition and straight-up-ballsiness on display for sure, but at a bum-numbing two and a half hours long, the self-indulgence and pretentiousness are sky high. The action-centric set pieces are few and far between, but when they arrive they offer a much needed bolt of energy. Superbly crafted with brutal, grounded-in-reality violence and thoughtful choreography, they're evidence of Zahler's undeniable talent. Casting Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn as the lead duo is a daring choice; Gibbo's offscreen baggage makes his bad-cop-with-good-intentions an uneasy character to engage with, whilst Vaughn's trademark childish-arrogant manner is often grating. Easy to admire but difficult to enjoy, Dragged Across Concrete may be how you feel after watching this, but that's also maybe the point.
Review of Dragged Across Concrete
