"RATS!" Is A Symphony Of Blood, Drugs, And Laughter (REVIEW)
The blurred lines between genre films can often lead to interesting cinematic experiments. One of the oldest examples of this is Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” where the comedy stylings of the duo meet the brooding creature that Dr. Frankenstein created to establish a movie that has moments of laughable levity alongside horrific monsters. The combinations of genre films are endless too, and as more time passes filmmakers are emboldened to experiment by juxtaposing tropes to establish something novel. These hybrid creations don’t always work, but when they do it stands out as something special in a sea of things that seem similar. Yellow Veil Pictures knows this all too well, and their latest release, “Rats!” is a perfect example of the kind of risk-taking that can lead to cult status. Does it nail the landing, or completely miss the mark?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In Pfresno, Texas, graffiti artist Raphael's arrest leads to his involvement in a chain of events involving a sting operation, suicide, drug deals, criminal suspicions, weapons, a newswoman, and a plutonium deal gone wrong, creating chaos.
HOW IS IT?
To paraphrase Sam Elliot’s The Stranger, “...sometimes there’s a film. I won’t say masterpiece, because what’s a masterpiece? But sometimes, there’s a film.” That film is “Rats!,” one of the most audaciously unhinged and irreverent comedies to be released since “Freddy Got Fingered” (which is a masterpiece, and no, we won’t be taking questions). In an era where things are very serious and cinema is an escape, a movie like “Rats!” is sorely needed to soothe our souls in times of turmoil. Part “I Think You Should Leave,” a few scoops of TikTok-style editing, and heaps of audacious violence and gags make “Rats!” the kind of movie that gives people who’ve never tried drugs the chance to experience what the world feels like when you’re on them.
“Rats!” has a plot, but it’s the deviations from said plot that make the film stand out. The story follows Raphael or Rafi (Luke Wilcox) as he gets released from jail after tagging the town of Pfresno’s (yes, with a “P”) most prized amenity; a coin-op pay phone. The local cop, Officer Williams (Danielle Evon Ploeger) uses this to try and get Rafi to “rat” out his cousin Mateo (Darius Autry) which sets off a series of mundane and outrageous events that could only happen in a place like Pfresno. From a toilet-bowl POV shot of someone taking a shit to the running joke around the pronunciation of “hands,” “Rats!” is littered with so many quips and gags you’ll find yourself dizzy from the laughter and lack of oxygen going to your brain. A movie rarely takes so many risks by being so unabashedly authentic, but that is all part of the charm with “Rats!” This is an unapologetic comedy that isn’t trying to find a broader audience but rather pander to a very specific subset of people with the strangest sense of humor out there. Like the aforementioned toilet bowl POV shot then leads into a bloody and extremely well-choreographed fight sequence between Officer Williams and some patron at the “Salted Putter” after the officer refuses to watch her hands after going to the bathroom. Hell, even the T-shirts that Mateo’s roommate, Nestor (Marc Livingood) will earn a cackle with phrases like “I put the hung in hungover” and “Legalize mother son marriage.”
A movie like “Rats!” lives and dies by how committed the cast is to the bit, and everyone here is not just in, they’re ALL-IN! Even the most “normal-seeming” characters are in on the jokes here, and while we find this all hilarious, we could also see how divisive some of this can be for people who prefer more milquetoast sitcom laughs. The humor here is in-your-face and unforgiving, which is what makes it the perfect movie to see in a theater full of people. To see those who laugh, those who don’t, and those who are unsure how to react. It’s the kind of movie that has the potential for cult status because of how much it bucks the trend around cinematic norms in favor of creating something interesting and different. Co-writers and Co-Directors Carl Fry and Maxwell Nalevansky confidently pummel the audience with jokes that break the fourth wall or present such outlandish versions of reality that one has to wonder if someone slipped some LSD in your drink before watching it. What helps is the vivid and colorful landscape that uses bright greens, pinks, purples, and teals to present a world that feels adjacent to the one we exist in. All of this leads to an ending that isn’t just hilarious, it’s got a body count bigger than some slasher movies with the blood and gore to match. We would never want to live in Pfresno, TX, but we for damn sure enjoyed our time there!
LAST RITES
It may be early in 2025, but “Rats!” is easily one of the best and most entertaining movies we are going to see this year. Unrelentingly weird, confidently hilarious, and unhinged in the most delightful way, you owe it to yourself to see “Rats!” with as many people as possible, just remember to breathe when you’re in the middle of a laughing fit!
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
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Where can you watch it?
“Rats!” releases in select theaters on February 28, 2025, and on VOD on March 11, 2025!
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