Little Dixie
Gritty, extremely violent one-man-army crime drama.
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Little Dixie
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Little Dixie is a violent, mature action/crime drama about a Special Forces operative (Frank Grillo) whose daughter is kidnapped due to a war between crooked Oklahoma politicians and a Mexican drug cartel. Violence is frequent and explicit, with shoot-outs, brutal killings, bloody wounds, blood spurts, a gruesome severed head, fighting, women attacked and killed, a teen girl in peril, and more. Language is also extreme, with frequent use of "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "goddamn," etc. The movie's villains are drug dealers, and packages of drugs are seen. The main character seemingly struggles with alcohol abuse, and there's cigarette smoking. The lead-up to a sex scene includes graphic imagery and dialogue (although no actual nudity or simulated sex is shown), and four topless women are shown working in the drug warehouse.
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What's the Story?
In LITTLE DIXIE, Doc (Frank Grillo) is a former Special Forces agent who's now working as a go-between with Oklahoma Governor Eric Dane (Richard Jeffs) -- an old military colleague -- and Mexican drug lord Lalo Prado (Maurice Compte). Billie Riggs (Annabeth Gish) is Doc's main connection to the governor. When Lalo's brother is executed for murder, the governor takes the opportunity to declare war on the cartels. And when the Prado's drug operation is raided by police, Lalo's brother, Cuco (Beau Knapp), decides to take revenge, with Doc caught in the middle. Cuco kidnaps Doc's daughter Nell (Sofia Bryant) and demands a most unusual ransom: the governor's head.
Is It Any Good?
Although most of this crime drama is so familiar as to be tired, the filmmakers nonetheless take a little extra time to develop a strange, gritty atmosphere that elevates the movie above the average. A series of betrayals and a path to revenge, the story of Little Dixie is, admittedly, nothing new. But even though it starts with two of the most worn-out bits of dialogue in cinema history ("you look like s--t" and "we had a deal"), it's clear that writer-director John Swab is trying something here. He spreads his scenes out so that there's breathing room and characters can interact, discussing more than just plot mechanics. There's a certain 1970s quality to the affair, as evidenced by the movie's tribute to Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia; it has both ambition to try something new and a sense of fatalism, the suggestion that all this violence can never lead anywhere good. Grillo is fully on board, giving a typical tough-guy performance but adding layers of weariness, perhaps even resignation. Knapp's evil Cuco starts as an over-the-top caricature, but even he turns into something interesting. Little Dixie is brutal, but it refuses to coddle viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Little Dixie's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drinking and drug use portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?
How are sex and nudity depicted in the movie? What values are imparted?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be good? Bad? Both? How?
Do you agree with the movie's (cynical) take on politics? How are politicians typically portrayed in the media? How does this movie compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 3, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2023
- Cast: Frank Grillo, Annabeth Gish, Beau Knapp
- Director: John Swab
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong violence and bloody images, pervasive language, some sexual content and brief nudity
- Last updated: March 27, 2023
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