Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Predictable crime thriller has tons of cursing, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Red Right Hand
What's the Story?
In RED RIGHT HAND, Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to atone for a dark past, working on his family farm with his widowed brother-in-law, Finney (Scott Haze), and his niece, Savannah (Chapel Oaks). Finney hasn't been taking the death of his wife, Cash's sister, well and has been drinking too much. Cash is enraged to discover that Finney has taken out a loan from local crime boss Big Cat (Andie MacDowell), which, in all likelihood, he can never pay back. Cash tries to set things right, and Big Cat promises to settle the debt if Cash will do three jobs for her. These involve drug deals and killings, but Cash goes through with them to the best of his ability. Even so, nothing turns out quite as he had hoped, so everything comes down to revenge—and an all-out attack on Big Cat's compound.
Is It Any Good?
All of the characters and situations in this thriller are so crushingly familiar that they've worn a groove in the storytelling landscape; its extreme length and overt seriousness make things worse. The heroes of Red Right Hand keep telling each other that they're doing things for "God, family, survival," but it's more like "revenge, revenge, revenge." And we've seen all of this before. There's a big boss who controls everything in this small town, including the cops (although MacDowell's cartoonishly vicious "Big Cat" has nothing on Marianne Jean-Baptiste's similar, sharper "Big Momma Sweet" in Rumble Through the Dark). And there's a hero, who's the only one not under her thumb ... until he is.
It's somewhat aggravating how the characters go through the motions of this creaky story without fully comprehending exactly how everything is going to turn out, though viewers definitely will. The title is even more perplexing. It describes Cash's burned, scarred hand—he's shown in flashback holding it over an open flame, for some reason—but it also references John Milton's Paradise Lost. A preacher (Garret Dillahunt) offers a closing sermon not from the Bible but from Milton, talking about the virtues of divine vengeance. Red Right Hand is certainly earnest and has a few committed performances, but it's ultimately more frustrating than satisfying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Red Right Hand'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 alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What do the characters mean when they say "God, family, survival"?
When the preacher talks about a "red right hand" and "divine revenge," what do you think he means?
How is bullying portrayed? How are those who bully others dealt with? What are some positive, constructive ways of handling bullying?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 23, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : February 23, 2024
- Cast : Orlando Bloom , Andie MacDowell , Garret Dillahunt
- Directors : Eshom Nelms , Ian Nelms
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 29, 2024
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