Sep. 29, 2020|United States|85 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Crime;Drama;Family;Thriller
Description: The genre of movies featuring bumbling criminals is one of my favorites. These films often revolve around heists or clueless individuals finding themselves in over their heads. They’re typically filled with entertainment, offering fun and engaging scenarios. Similarly, I enjoy crime movies set during the holiday season, which create an interesting contrast between the festive atmosphere and the unfolding chaos. Combine these elements with a touch of unexpected politeness in dangerous situations and a hint of supernatural folklore, and you get the charming film *How to Deter a Robber*, which debuted at Fantastic Fest 2020.
*How to Deter a Robber* marks the first feature film by writer-director Maria Bissell, who skillfully blends the absurd with the ordinary. The characters are quirky enough to be amusing without losing their believability. They feel relatable, and their involvement in such a situation doesn’t seem far-fetched. At just 85 minutes, the film is concise, avoiding unnecessary exposition and delivering a quick, humorous, and refreshing story before wrapping up.
The story follows Madison (Vanessa Marano), an 18-year-old spending the holidays with her family in a cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Despite her intelligence, she doesn’t push herself, as seen in her choice of boyfriend, Jimmy (Benjamin Papac), who is sweet but naïve. After an argument with her mother, Madison and Jimmy decide to check on their neighbor’s empty house. Following a séance involving the mythical creature known as the “hodag,” they get high and fall asleep.
Upon waking, they discover the neighbor’s house has been robbed while they were unconscious. After reporting the incident to the police, they’re told not to leave town. Since Madison’s family is departing that day, the teens are forced to stay with her gruff uncle Andy (Chris Mulkey). Meanwhile, a series of robberies continues in the area. In an attempt to protect their home from being targeted, they set up *Home Alone*-style traps, arm themselves with BB guns, and try to make it obvious that someone is present. However, as one might expect, things don’t go as planned.
Cast director: Maria Bissell
Cast actor: Vanessa Marano, Leah Lewis, Chris Mulkey, Gabrielle Carteris, Abbie Cobb, Sonny Valicenti, Benjamin Papac, Jonah Ray, Nikki Crawford, Deanna Rooney
Original name: How to Deter a Robber