“A
salutary lesson in how not to deal
with drug cartels comes from an
explosive thriller that follows a shipment
of cocaine grown and harvested by a
young couple with children in Colombia
to delivery to the head of the cartel,
during which it is compromised resulting
in the tragic and violent consequences
of Running With The Devil...”
A COLOMBIAN FATHER, along with his wife and children, harvest the cocaine bushes
before preparing them for shipment into the United States of America in the
explosive drugs thriller Running With The Devil.
It is the beginning of a journey that will see the harvest grow in value at
every step of the way as it travels North, initially with Colombia, to be passed
on in stages to be smuggled across the border to its final destination with
the head of the drugs cartel.
“An
enjoyable,
compelling film with
a strong message
and the usual, expected
episodes of violence
that comes from
drugs thrillers...”
'The
Boss' (Barry Pepper) has begun to realise that he is being cheated as the recent
consignments have been lighter than expected. He calls on his two most trusted
men to ensure the next consignment is received uncompromised.
Although 'The Cook' (Nicolas Cage), who is married with a child on the way,
plays it straight down the line and never puts a foot wrong, 'The Man' (Laurence
Fishburne) enjoys a drug-fuelled hedonistic lifestyle and has become hooked
on cocaine. He is out of control and cutting the drug with dangerous substances.
Divorced from his wife and constantly disappointing his young daughter, The
Man lives for quick fixes from cocaine and sex. Two street girls have already
died after using his doctored drugs.
The Man's luck is about to run out when The Boss realises who is responsible
for the missing cocaine and the spate of deaths following the circulation of
bad drugs.
When a small girl (a very charming Marie Wagenman) is unable to wake up her
parents — she's too young to realise they are actually dead — a female
agent from the Field Office of the DEA in Seattle becomes involved in the investigation
to discover the source of the bad cocaine that has caused their deaths.
As The Man and The Cook, once close friends who trusted each other, begin to
realise the enormity of what lies ahead, The Boss makes his plans to eliminate
those who have crossed and deceived him with horrifically violent vengefulness.
Even friendship will not get in the way of the penalties of betrayal.
Nicolas Cage excels as the coldly calculating drug man The Cook, who appears
to be a benign family man yet has become involved with drug trafficking to improve
and maintain his lifestyle.
Laurence Fishburne is believable as the once-focused and trustworthy friend
and colleague to The Cook, who falls into the trap of becoming addicted to drugs
and sex and unwisely betrays The Boss — with dire consequences.
Running With The Devil is an enjoyable, compelling film with a strong
message and the usual, expected episodes of violence that comes from drugs thrillers.
There are two particular scenes (one at the beginning and one at the end) that
some may find distressing and one more when The Boss disposes of another man
who has betrayed his trust.
Sometimes the film is not easy watching, but we felt the overall content to
be fascinating as the drugs journey from hand to hand across the border from
South to North America.
Former active-combat Navy SEAL Jason Cabell makes his worthy debut as a director,
using the military experience and knowledge he gained while serving in over
one hundred countries throughout the world.
Running With The Devil includes filming in Colombia around Bogota and
the Chingaza National Park, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Death Valley National Park, Seattle
in the United States, and up to the Canadian Border through North Cascades National
Park; the beautiful scenery often makes a stark contrast to the dark content
of the movie.
Running With The Devil also features: Adam Goldberg as The Snitch; Leslie
Bibb as Agent in Charge; Peter Facinelli as Number One; Clifton Collins Jr as
The Farmer; Natalia Reyes Gaitan as The Woman; Christian Tappan Sorzano as Cartel
Member; Cole Hauser as The Executioner; Jason Cabell as The Case Officer; and
Sarah Minnich as The Cook's Wife. #Music is by Reinhold Heil; Director of Photography
is Cory Geryak; Co-Producers are Scott Reed and Juan Pablo Solano; Produced
by Jim Steele and Michael Mendelsohn; and Written and Directed by Jason Cabell.
Running With The Devil will be available on Digital Download from 4 November,
2019.
"Running With The Devil… is an enjoyable, compelling film with a strong
message and the usual, expected episodes of violence that comes from drugs thrillers"
— ****
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"
“A
salutary lesson in how not to deal