Cheap Thrills

There are satisfying echoes of Stephen King's sly black humour in this deliciously nasty comedy thriller.

Screenwriters David Chirchirillo and Trent Haaga pose a simple question -- how much will a person degrade himself to make ends meet? -- but it's a potent one, at least for those of us who ponder it every Monday through Friday.

Let's just say it takes a dim view of human nature that seems well supported by the evidence, and that if you have an appetite for fatalistic, dirty-minded gore you won't be disappointed.

If Cheap Thrills ultimately does carry us along, it's due largely to Healy's performance and presence.

You should watch it as a twisted comedy. Those who do will be rewarded, especially by the film's outlandish final image.

To describe them would diminish their impact, but there are several occasions where it is tough to keep looking at the screen. Yet, thanks to the characters and their portrayals, you can't really look away, either.

A fantastic premise in search of a better movie...

Strikes an astute balance between a simply engaging dark thriller and a trenchant piece of social commentary. Also it's a lot of fun.

Cheap Thrills lives up to its name, and like many of life's guilty pleasures, it wouldn't be a surprise if audiences wanted another helping.

Gird your stomach for Cheap Thrills, a bloody but enjoyably ironic horror which enters that queasy zone where Michael Haneke's Funny Games meets a reality-TV bush tucker trial.

The film makes the most of its premise and small cast, zipping from low-budget drama to sick black comedy to gruesome thriller.

Director EL Katz ratchets up the tension effectively as the game gets ever more sickeningly dark, but it's his cast's fine performances that keep us watching and give this far-fetched tale a degree of emotional plausibility.