‘One of These Days’ Review: A Stunning Piece of Feel-Bad Cinema
If you are in the mood for an upbeat, feel-good film for the masses, One of These Days is not it. Not even close.
Appropriately set in a small Texas town amongst low-income strangers trying to scrimp and save, One of These Days is the true story based on a local contest where one winner receives a brand-new pickup truck. The rules are, you must have at least one hand on the vehicle. There is one exception during the official breaks which are 15 min every six hours. The last man standing wins!
Sounds simple enough and going into its tenth year, organizers should have produced lessons learned alongside best practices that have been implemented since year one. However, as this hodgepodge of 20 desperate Texans begins to set up their ‘area’ on the truck, each one magnifies a hopeful glimmer of light in their dreary eyes with happy optimism of bringing home a free vehicle, earned through blood, sweat, and tears.
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Young Kyle (Joe Cole) is a standout, setting himself up for success with his beautiful wife and new baby visiting to infuse energy and pep into his stamina. He intends to win for his little family, who are obviously in great need of this prize, given their current struggles. Kyle is an active contestant who observes and detects his peers’ weaknesses with expectations that time and pressure will take their toll on each and every one of them until he wins.
By the end of Day 2, the personas of cheating, exasperation, and humility take effect in disturbing overtures. Whatever comradery began in celebration of the contest kick-off is now long gone while they play mind games within, psyching each other to release hands, and squealing the tremendous loss with glee. It’s not only dramatic but twisted in nature to watch this trek along with degeneracy.
Within several more days, the fatigue and delirium develop with intense heat at an exhausting level of torture. Seeing these everyday folks clinging to the Bible, music, memories, and some pure nonsensical murmur will set your own brain into implosion mode. It’s a desperation for fulfillment that unfortunately turns into a tragic and grim ending for all.
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At the center of this whirlwind PR fiasco is owner Joan Dempsey (Carrie Preston) who is grappling with her own emotional distress and sadness while she feigns a happy face throughout the festivities. She’s impressive to follow while witnessing her hard work unwind and collapse into a mess, metaphoric of her life.
One of These Days is absolutely draining in mind, body, and soul. Through sleep deprivation, paranoia, and hallucinations, there is little quality of life to seek out following the end of this sad little competition.
It’s not a typical horror film by any means. However, unlike a common day drama, this will suck the life out of your already exacerbated body and linger in your head for the next few days. It’s just beyond depressing, which ironically makes it so good.
Watch the trailer:
Summary
‘One Of These Days’ is beyond depressing, which ironically makes it so good.
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