Rats! Unleashes a Wild Ride of Absurdity and Gore in Indie Comedy Thriller!

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As a die-hard movie buff, I must confess that the minds behind the latest indie flick, “Rats!“, might just be a tad eccentric. With its blend of offbeat cops, irreverent humor, copious amounts of bodily fluids, and, let’s face it, some pretty gruesome rats, this film could very well become the most outrageously funny comedy of 2023. The directors and writers seem to be fully aware of the absurdity they’re creating, making this wild ride all the more entertaining (or perhaps that’s just me hoping!).

Born in Austin, Texas, Carl Fry and Maxwell Nalevansky have been close friends and frequent collaborators since their time together on the set of the cult classic film, Lingua Franca. Since then, they’ve continued to work together, although their unique sense of humor might not appeal to mainstream audiences at first – it requires an acquired taste. Eventually, however, this dynamic duo is destined to find a platform where their work can be regularly showcased. Perhaps in the form of an edgy 30-minute comedy or animated series like “Rats!: The Animated Series.” Seems fitting.

In the small Texas town of Pfresno, where every F-starting word has an extra P (a running joke in the film), the newcomer Luke Wilcox stars in “Rats!”, which takes us back to 2007, a time before social media dominated our focus. Raphael (Wilcox) is apprehended for vandalizing a town landmark – the last remaining public phone booth – with graffiti. His eccentric single mother sends him to live with his cousin Mateo (Darius Autry) nearby, and what was once a “good boy” soon finds himself entangled in dangerous situations such as nuclear threats, undercover operations, and a failed plutonium deal. Adding to the chaos, there are indeed rats around.

From Gross to Grosser in a Flash

In this film, Danielle Evon Ploeger portrays Officer Williams with an intensity that suggests she’s consumed an excessive amount of energy drinks. From the start, this determined cop arrests Raphael and sends him to county jail. She continues to pursue him when he is assigned community service, growing increasingly suspicious as he moves in with Mateo, whom she believes might be involved in a bizarre scheme to sell nuclear warheads to the Taliban.

Luckily, Raphael strikes up a friendship with Bernadette, another community worker, serving as the pair who keep this bizarre comedy from veering too far off course. However, the humor falters whenever it delves into the relationship between these two characters. This is likely due to the excessive and outrageous elements surrounding them, such as the elderly women in town, on the brink of losing control at any moment, or Nestor, Mateo’s socially awkward roommate, and the eccentric rapper Pflophouse.

Did we discuss the high-ranking female journalist who gives commands and occasionally exposes herself to her submissive spouse during distressing situations while filming gruesome events in the background? Yes, it’s unfortunate but true. In the meantime, a mishap involving plutonium arises. However, one might wonder about the rats in this scenario?

Where the Hell Are the Rats?

Interestingly enough, despite its title, “Rats!” doesn’t feature a large number of rats. If you’re expecting an army of sinister rats akin to “The Swarm” or “Kingdom of the Spiders,” you might be disappointed. However, when rats do make an appearance, they are terrifyingly portrayed with great attention to detail in terms of gore. You’ll squirm, and you may even wish for more humorous horror elements throughout the film.

Fundamentally, “Rats!” is an eccentric, punk-influenced production that offers a wild ride, much like an acid trip, propelled by a relentless soundtrack comprising songs from Blood Brothers, From First To Last, I Set My Friends On Fire, Kas5sh & Yung Skrrt, and Thursday. The film seldom slows down, with quick-fire humor and gross-out elements keeping you guessing until the very end. Kudos to the convincing portrayal by Wilcox and skillful direction. It’s intriguing to find a strong, unconventional female character in Officer Williams, played exuberantly by Danielle Evon Ploeger, despite her over-the-top antics becoming repetitive rather swiftly.

Rat-Whacked & Over the Top

In the movie “Rats!”, you’ll find undercover FBI agents joining the fray, alongside a psychopath who delights in severing limbs whenever he gets the chance. If you enjoy a good dose of exaggerated humor, laced with a touch of horror and gore, this film is right up your alley. After winning an audience award at the Fantasia Film Festival, the creators are hopeful that it will find wider acclaim. For now, this unique movie continues to entertain in its twisted little world. “Rats!” hits theaters on February 28 and VOD on March 11.

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2025-02-28 20:02