THE STORY – A tapestry of interconnected characters struggle to outrun the cycles of addiction that bind them, as they lean on one another to keep hope alive.
THE CAST – Kyle Gallner, Sosie Bacon, Chabely Ponce, Ronald Emile, Ari Mora & Sam Quartin
THE TEAM – Daniel Blake Schwartz (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 89 Minutes
Even for the most casual cinephile, a film focused on characters struggling with addiction is hardly revelatory. Classics like “Requiem For a Dream” and “Traffic” set the bar high for this particular genre, and while writer-director Daniel Blake Schwartz’s “Cotton Fever” tries to be distinctive, it falls short. While the diversity of characters and specific circumstances is appreciated, it isn’t enough to make up for the incoherent narratives and lack of emotional attachment to the individuals, despite the difficult situations they find themselves in. We’ve also seen interlocking stories plenty of times, and unfortunately, Blake Schwartz’s script makes it harder than it should be to keep track of the characters. Sure, we care enough about them, but that’s primarily thanks to the solid performances from the cast, not the writing.
“Cotton Fever” follows a group of interconnected characters who are all struggling with addiction — something that binds them yet also allows them to connect and keep hope alive. Dina (Sosie Bacon) and James (Kyle Gallner) are recovering addicts who are trying to build a stable, reliable life together, especially as Dina is carrying their first child. Young queer couple Sam (Chabely Ponce) and Manny (Ari Mora) are active drug users, getting by on weekly settlement checks from a past lawsuit–until that runs dry, forcing them to make risky alternative plans. Akil (Ronald Emile) is a hardworking street outreach professional, but the one person he can’t seem to save is his brother. Then, there’s Harley, a teenager who lives in the streets and interacts with these characters while trying to belong. Unsurprisingly, betrayals and crimes occur, typically in the name of money for drugs.
This film marks the reunion of “Smile” stars Gallner and Bacon, though they share few actual scenes. While both are generally reliable in whatever roles they play, in “Cotton Fever,” they do the best they can with the little character development or information we’re given. Also, it’s unclear how strong their relationship is, especially since we see no intimate moments between them. It’s the same with the other characters: the film contains numerous inconsistencies and edits that leave the viewer wondering how an individual got from one situation or location to the next. Gallner and Bacon are undoubtedly the biggest names in the cast, although Ponce is also a stand-out, especially when depicting Sam going through withdrawal. But everyone does exactly what they’re supposed to do, even if the characters are fairly surface-level. Michael Sempert’s electronic-focused original score doesn’t do the film any favors, failing to match the bleak, sometimes distressing atmosphere on screen. To the movie’s credit, it does not shy away from showing the ugliness of drug addiction, from a near-fatal overdose to severe withdrawal symptoms… but that’s really all there is.
“Cotton Fever” tackles everything from drug addiction to poverty to inter-personal relationships–but Blake Schwartz (making his feature directorial debut here) does little to separate the film from similar projects. The Boston setting could’ve provided a unique perspective. Still, aside from some stereotypical accents, this could be taking place anywhere in the U.S. This story has been onscreen so many times before, and there are so many better iterations out there. And despite its inherent humanity and heart, there’s not enough to keep the film engaging. Even at only 89 minutes, it drags, and by the end, we still know very little about the characters. The brief moments of hopefulness are appreciated, especially considering how sad it is, but it all leads to a disappointingly anti-climactic ending. It didn’t need a happy ending, just a better one.
