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Rats! (film)

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For other films of the same name, see Rat (disambiguation).
Rats!
Directed byMaxwell Nalevansky
Carl Fry
Written byMaxwell Nalevansky
Carl Fry
Produced byMaxwell Nalevansky
Carl Fry
Adam Levin
Alison Moses
Harrison Nalevansky
Danielle Evon Ploeger
Ariel Ash
StarringDanielle Evon Ploeger
Luke Wilcox
Darius Autry
Khali Sykes
Ariel Ash
Jacob Wysocki
Pineapple Tangoroa
CinematographyCarmen Hilbert
Edited byCarl Fry
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Rats! (stylized in all caps) is a 2024 American independent comedy film written and directed by Maxwell Nalevansky and Carl Fry. The film is set in the fictional town of Pfresno, Texas in the year 2007 and follows Raphael, who, after being arrested by an overzealous police officer, gets caught up in a chaotic world of drug kingpins, ecoterrorists, mallrats, and rappers. The film blends gross-out humor with social commentary, highlighting the disorder of small-town life and youth counterculture in 2000s Texas.[1] The film received the bronze audience award for Best International Feature at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival.[2]

Plot

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Raphael, a young man from Pfresno, Texas, is arrested by the unhinged Officer Williams for graffiti. After his release from jail, he becomes entangled in a mission targeting his cousin Mateo, suspected of possessing nuclear weapons. Raphael's confession to Mateo uncovers a personal vendetta Officer Williams has against him from high school, complicating the situation further.

Cast

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  • Danielle Evon Ploeger as Officer Williams
  • Luke Wilcox as Raphael Tinski
  • Darius Autry as Mateo
  • Khali Sykes as Bernadette
  • Ariel Ash as Shay Burrata
  • Jacob Wysocki as Billy
  • Pineapple Tangoroa as Panda

Production

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Rats! was shot in Pflugerville, Texas, a town located near Austin, where co-writer and co-director Carl Fry has lived for the past decade. The story was brought to life in just 16 days with a cast and crew largely based in Austin.[3] The film draws inspiration from the anarchic energy of the Austin 1990s DIY film scene.[4]

Release and reception

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Festivals

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Rats! was selected to screen at the following film festivals:

Critical response

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Rats! has received praise for its offbeat and outrageous humor, Dread Central stating that Rats! was “repulsive and crude, but it’s also full of heart.”[5] The Houston Chronicle remarks that the film’s raw, no-holds-barred approach “boasts a level of exaggerated bad taste that John Waters might admire.”[6] The Gauntlet praised the film's tribute to indie cinema, stating that it “serves as a testament to the personal allure of independent cinema,” showcasing the unique draw of low-budget filmmaking.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Kay, Jeremy (May 3, 2024). "Yellow Veil Pictures to launch Cannes sales on stoner comedy 'RATS!' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  2. ^ Kay, Jeremy (August 6, 2024). "'Bookworm' wins 2024 Fantasia audience award for best international film (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  3. ^ Hurtado, Josh (July 30, 2024). "Fantasia 2024 Review: RATS! A Blast Of Hilarious Punk Energy From Small Town Texas". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. ^ "RATS!". Filmink. August 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. ^ McAndrews, Mary Beth (August 5, 2024). "'Rats!' Is A Heart-Felt, Gross-Out Comedy For Kids of The Early 2000s [Fantasia 2024 Review]". Dread Central. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Vognar, Chris (November 10, 2024). "Texas director creates the gross-out comedy hit out of Austin suburb with 'Rats!'". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. ^ Amir, Nimra (April 25, 2024). "CUFF 2024: Rats! Review". The Gauntlet. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
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