The Straw Ban Has Been Lifted

 

I've mused a lot on the different vibes of horror on streaming sites. I can't quite explain why, but I can generally count on finding something sharp but soulless on Hulu, flawed but interesting on Shudder, zany and positively cheap on Tubi, and often, mean on Amazon.

Anyway, let's get going.

Quick Plot: After her car breaks down, waitress/manager Nancy discovers she's pregnant en route to her shift at her father's 24-hour diner. The day gets even more stressful when a batch of bratty masked youths on mopeds show up for some fries. She manages to scare them off without the support of the rest of her staff. Trying to assert some new managerial authority, Nancy fires salty line chef Jake, alienates puppy-eyed bus boy Bobby, and takes on the night shift alone.

Nancy uses her free time to do what any normal human being would: blast the music and lip sync to her favorite tunes. 

Her fun is interrupted by the return of those masked bikers who, according to the grumpy and inept policeman who shows up at her call, have committed the most horrific murder this town has ever seen. 

There's more to the story, and the target on Nancy's back (or Fat Bottom, as the restaurant name insists) is particularly personal. Can she make it through the night? Some clever use of deep frying oil and raw meat will certainly help. 

Last Straw is a tricky movie. It's competently made and nicely shot, with a solid score by Alan Palomo and very good performances all around. Jessica Belkin has an almost Jessica Rothe-esque charisma in pulling us in while playing a rather unlikable woman. Our antagonists' motives come from a real place of understandable pain. The action is both real and suspenseful.

But by golly, that doesn't make it fun to watch.

Everyone is miserable. Bad things happen to the vaguely not terrible people. The world is dark and these people die in it.

Director Alan Scott Neal clearly has talent. I just hope his next film also has a little more light. 

High Points

Nancy is a young woman who mostly makes terrible decisions, but Jessica Belkin is incredibly watchable in the role. I'm excited to see more from her

Low Points

This movie isn't necessarily Red White and Blue puppy crushing, but it's just so darn dour

Lessons Learned

The best gateway drug is trauma

Telling your customers to bring their fat bottoms back, even if your restaurant name is Fat Bottom Bistro, is still probably not the best plan for repeat business

The smaller the town, the dumber the small town cop

Rent/Bury/Buy

Last Straw is well-made, but awfully unpleasant. If you're in the mood for that kind of gritty ride, find it on Amazon Prime.