What happens when little, tentative monsters run into a full-fledged monster? That’s the question presented by horror story cum morality fable Bad Samaritan (2018). Minor league thief Sean Falco is exploring whether or not he can build a stable and happy life while taking advantage of society when one of his escapades reveals that one of his victims, a man named Cale, is a monster himself. Sean has discovered a woman in Cale’s house, immobilized in leather and chains, and Sean is forced to leave before he can free her.
Cale, the big monster, discovers what has happened and now vengeance most foul is rained down upon Sean. Friends are hurt and die, his adoptive parents face ruin, and Cale must dodge fate itself.
But monsters tend to have egos in proportion to their commitment to being monsters, and so Cale plays with Sean. As Sean works to remedy his failure to free the mysterious woman, more and more horrible secrets come to the surface.
In a horrific finale, Sean is introduced to his future as a monster – as is the audience.
We found the pacing to be a little slower than we might have liked, but it’s not a bad little movie for its genre. If you enjoy seeing the darker side of human nature, especially of those who do not commit to the general rules of society, this movie may be for you.
