Red State

Red State (2011)

  • 58% of critics liked it
    (81 reviews)

  • 68% want to see it
    (4,379 ratings)

Red State unfolds in a small town dominated by a fundamentalist preacher, Abin Cooper. It tells the story of three high school boys who, on their way to an internet arranged meeting with a woman, end up crossing paths with Cooper. The encounter sets into motion a series of events that causes all… More

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R,
Directed By
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Horror
SModcast Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Justin Chang, Variety

    Calculated to outrage and executed to underwhelm, Kevin Smith's Red State is like a dull blade slashing wildly, predictably and ineffectually at its target.

  • Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

    It's a charming if conspicuously unfinished film, a half-riotous, half-idiotic send-up of the teen horror genre with a vaguely hip political twist.

  • Tom Huddleston, Time Out

    If nothing else, it's nice to see this director refusing to play by the rules of the multiplex.

  • William Goss, Film.com

    Wants so badly to push viewers' buttons, but struggles to reach them more often than not.

  • A.O. Scott, New York Times

    For all its boisterous profanity and splattery violence, the film is more of a weary sigh than a sputtering volley of indignation.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Luke B


    Kevin Smith abandons his comedies for this horror/thriller loosely based on the Westboro baptist church. An extremist religious community kidnap 'sinners' and execute them. That's it for the plot, but things soon get out of hand with the arrival of John Goodman as an… More

  • Emil K


    By far director Kevin Smith's best work to date but also flawed one like all of his earlier work. Red State is surprisingly graphic and disturbing film with it's scenes of violence and horror. This obviously is change of direction from Smith. It is sad to see that while the… More

  • Jim H


    Three boys looking for sex encounter a murderous religious cult that is being attacked by the ATF. I hate to say it, but Kevin Smith is on a losing streak. Getting away from the immature, lower-class characters who characterized his early work and moving to action films like… More

  • Matthew S


    A silly, fun satire on the Westboro Baptist Church. It's unfortunate that Kevin Smith's budget couldn't fund the ending he originally planned. The last 5 minutes are deflating and generic (though not without some value) compared to the rest of the movie.

  • Randy T


    Obviously inspired by Rev. Fred Phelps (Topeka, Kansas) and David Koresh (Waco, Texas), Kevin Smith's <i>Red State</i> is an indictment of cults, zealots and law enforcement tactics. Nicely crafted and superbly cast. Highly recommended.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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