From Jaws to Grizzly, animals gone wild films have entertained horror fans for decades. Those seemingly cute exotic creatures that roam the earth and sea that humans view on television sets and zoos become monstrous bloodthirsty creatures in the wild, giving artists poisoned playgrounds to put their fictional characters in. The 2023 release of Cocaine Bear brought forth a new sub-genre. Wild creatures on drugs! Quickly, filmmakers started pouncing on the popular new idea by greenlighting similar projects. Known for their old school approach to horror, indie darling Fuzzy Monkey Films captured worldwide attention with the announcement of their latest film. CRACKCOON. Will this original concept continue the great legacy of terrific terrifying productions from the fan favorite horror company, or will this peculiar take be just another cheap cash in?
Drug dealer Denny (Chris O’Brocki) has acquired a new synthetically altered super drug, which should boost his sales. The drug gives users the high of a lifetime with one small side effect, it turns fiends into bloodthirsty monsters. While being pulled over by law enforcement, Denny and his lover Frankie (Justin P. Martin) decide to ditch the sacred stash to avoid incarceration. Moments later an unsuspecting cute creature from the forest crawls upon the stash. After gobbling up the goods, the creature transforms into the CRACKCOON! A group on a getaway, locals, and other unlucky campers quickly become CRACKCOON fodder. Frankie desperately scampers away from the path of the raccoon from hell as he searches for help before the little monster devours the entire town.
CRACKCOON is a furry freight train carrying lots of laughs, tremendous kills, and unforgettable performances. Fuzzy Monkey Films has made their name by delivering the kind of movies that made fans fall in love with horror. CRACKCOON is the perfect personification of their work. While the plot may sound absurd, writers Gary Lee Vincent and Todd Martin deliver a very believable script which keeps the viewer glued to the screen from the opening sequence until the final bloody battle. Director Brad Twigg shines with terrific shot selection and score, which consistently creates tense atmospheres every time the CRACKCOON appears on screen. The cast blends in comedic tones with sheer horror with amazing ease. Justin P. Martin drives the narrative with an iconic performance with his many run-ins with the cracked-out creature. Chris O’Brocki perfectly portrays the drug dealer anyone would want to buy from. Gary Lee Vincent and Rosaria Eraso put in empathetic shifts that give the audience characters to cheer for. It is the special effects team that steals the show. The CRACKCOON kills are some of the best in recent memory, with two sultry situations that will without a doubt go down in horror history’s greatest kills. The fuzzy star of the film is showcased with magnificent delight through the creature’s facial expressions and vicious attacks.
CRACKCOON is the most recent example of how independent films are putting out superior products over studio productions. While big budget animals gone amuck films like Slotherhouse play it safe with cutaway kills, tame comedy, and PG-13 content, no holds barred independent studios such as Fuzzy Monkey, deliver the goods with a hysterical bloodbath that spills over the tub with entertainment. CRACKCOON may play just like its lead creature, slow out of the gate, but once audiences devour the goods, the film will be a ravenous monster from which there is no escape.
Scream Score: 9/10
(CRACKOON is tentatively scheduled for release on international racoon day, October 1st)