‘Cult Hero’ Fantasia Fest 2022 Review – A Shotgun Blast Of Fun

Plot Summary: Manager-summoning control freak Kallie Jones attempts to rescue her husband from a “wellness center” with the help of a washed-up expert Cult Buster named Dale Domazar.

There are always a few rare gems at Fantasia that are just a damn joy to watch. They are they kind of crowd-pleasing popcorn flicks that you can’t help but fall totally in love with. Jesse Cook’s latest film Cult Hero is certainly one such film. Starting with a literal bang, this movie has more action in its first ten minutes than most do for their entire runtime. Seriously, this doesn’t waste a second’s time and throws you right into the thick of it. Not only is this an exciting, tightly edited scene, it does a great job at establishing the main character and the events that will put the entire plot into motion.

I’ve been a fan of Jesse’s films since 2013’s underrated Septic Man. Cook knows how to take tired genre tropes and play with them in ways that feel fun, yes, but also fresh. With enough crazy set pieces and interesting world-building, Cook elevates what could be a very by-the-numbers action film into something truly special. He does a great job at balancing the realistic with the surreal. For example, in one brilliant satirical moment, Kallie’s co-worker and rival in the realty game produces this sexy ad. It’s just over-the-top enough to be funny but still feels grounded enough to not be out of place.

The movie isn’t shy about taking a risk with some dark humor, which I think lands really well. Wisely, Cook seems to know the fine line between slightly edgy without ever feeling like some edge-lord-provocateur. Sure, this film is the equal to doing a line of coke off of a VHS tape and getting a bombastic rush, but it’s not entirely without a point. For as wonderfully silly as the movie is, it does have some great character arcs that feel very satisfying. However, it never tips its hat into too sappy or sentimental. Overall, this is just a fantastic, scrappy genre offering.

While made on a modest budget, Cook makes the best of it and conjures up a slick looking, even stylish film. Hollywood could really take some lessons as I’ve seen movies with triple the budget not look nearly as good. Clearly, the filmmaker’s time in the trenches of low-cost features has served him well.

Ry Barrett as cult buster Dale Domazar is truly a revelation. Barrett is an utter pleasure to watch as he plays an over-the-top Dog the Bounty Hunter-type persona. He is every absurd ultra-macho television personality fueled by axe-body spray, red bull and an unwavering over-confidence in himself. Liv Collins plays Kallie Jones, a not-so-subtle Karen-type. In this role, Collins is tasked with matching Barrett’s big energy. A lesser actor would get completely swallowed up by Dale Domazar’s huge personality, yet Collins not only proves she can hang with him but she steals most of the scenes she’s in. I cannot say enough great things about both Collins and Barrett who have great chemistry, and both shine without ever feeling like one is trying to dominate the scene. The supporting cast is all excellent, and I am happy that there isn’t a bad performance in the film.

Yeah, Cult Hero isn’t deep, and it won’t change your outlook on life, but damn if it isn’t a shotgun blast of fun. This is truly a cult classic in the making and one that I highly recommend.

Cult Hero had its World Premiere at the 2022 Fantasia International Film Festival. 

Directors: Jesse T. Cook

Runtime: 94m

Cast: Ry Barrett, Justin Bott, Tony Burgess, Liv Collins, Jess Vano