A married couple and some friends with the usual interpersonal dramas must contend with a hazardous contamination (some kind of concentrated methadrine) of their local area's water supply. Tensions already festering are made worse as their situation becomes more desperate as they begin to dehydrate.
I generally root for ultra low-budget films to surprise me and make up for their scarcity of budget with a cleverness of plot and a display of filmmaking talent. Thirst is undeniably well-made even though it appears to have been produced for mere pennies compared to big studio productions. Unfortunately, however, the scenario sinks into silliness as the story drips along... Spoilers below as to what annoyed me about the film and warranted my three star rating:
A local water shortage, especially one lasting beyond a couple of days (apparently in this case it seems to be about two weeks) would not be ignored by local or national aid groups; there would be assistance arriving at some point with bottled water or water buffalo trucks providing help.
Not once, but twice, the home of the sheltering group is invaded by intruders who walk in through unlocked doors. C'mon, it's not the 19th century--who doesn't lock their doors anymore whether at home or not? The house is not out in the country, it's in the friggin' suburbs. I lose sympathy for characters when they're written as this stupid.
In the final act, the husband finds a freshwater pond via an internet search and the group depart to camp and partake of the clean water there. However, the next day they awaken to find about twenty other cars nearby with other people who had the same idea. And then soon again, two tough guys with one shotgun commandeer the pond and demand payment for anyone who wants to fill up water. C'mon, all those people and NO-ONE else brought firearms along, also? This story is taking place in America...the tough guys wouldn't be the only ones who brought firearms with them. And the cherry on this inane plot twist is that one of thugs just happens to be the abusive boyfriend that the husband cold-cocked with a 2 by 4 earlier after he beat-up his girlfrind who, distraught, committed suicide at the couple's house (who must have been buried in the couple's backyard because we never see any Coroner arrive to remove her body).
I generally root for ultra low-budget films to surprise me and make up for their scarcity of budget with a cleverness of plot and a display of filmmaking talent. Thirst is undeniably well-made even though it appears to have been produced for mere pennies compared to big studio productions. Unfortunately, however, the scenario sinks into silliness as the story drips along... Spoilers below as to what annoyed me about the film and warranted my three star rating:
A local water shortage, especially one lasting beyond a couple of days (apparently in this case it seems to be about two weeks) would not be ignored by local or national aid groups; there would be assistance arriving at some point with bottled water or water buffalo trucks providing help.
Not once, but twice, the home of the sheltering group is invaded by intruders who walk in through unlocked doors. C'mon, it's not the 19th century--who doesn't lock their doors anymore whether at home or not? The house is not out in the country, it's in the friggin' suburbs. I lose sympathy for characters when they're written as this stupid.
In the final act, the husband finds a freshwater pond via an internet search and the group depart to camp and partake of the clean water there. However, the next day they awaken to find about twenty other cars nearby with other people who had the same idea. And then soon again, two tough guys with one shotgun commandeer the pond and demand payment for anyone who wants to fill up water. C'mon, all those people and NO-ONE else brought firearms along, also? This story is taking place in America...the tough guys wouldn't be the only ones who brought firearms with them. And the cherry on this inane plot twist is that one of thugs just happens to be the abusive boyfriend that the husband cold-cocked with a 2 by 4 earlier after he beat-up his girlfrind who, distraught, committed suicide at the couple's house (who must have been buried in the couple's backyard because we never see any Coroner arrive to remove her body).
