The movie is just out on Netflix here in Malaysia. Guess what, after watching it, Cocaine Bear delivers exactly that kind of coolness—somehow, even more. This gleefully absurd horror-comedy takes a bizarre true story and transforms it into 95 minutes of pure, nasty entertainment. I find it a little bit too much for children under 12, so please take note.
Remarkably, Cocaine Bear draws inspiration from actual events that occurred in 1985 when a 175-pound black bear discovered and consumed a duffel bag containing approximately 75 pounds of cocaine dropped by a drug smuggler in the Tennessee wilderness. While some were saying the real bear, unfortunately, died from the overdose while others said the bear is still there, the movie reimagines this peculiar footnote in history as the starting point for a wild, blood-soaked adventure.
What makes Cocaine Bear work so brilliantly is its straightforward approach. The movie doesn’t overcomplicate things or pretend the film is anything other than what it is: a wild romp about a drug-fueled bear terrorising visitors in a national forest. The film embraces its B-movie roots while delivering unexpectedly solid production values and genuinely effective comedy.
The ensemble cast, featuring Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and the late Ray Liotta in one of his final roles, commits fully to the madness. Their earnest performances ground the ridiculous premise just enough to keep viewers invested while never taking themselves too seriously. Perhaps most surprising is how the movie manages to weave in genuine moments of heart amidst the chaos. A mother searching for her daughter provides emotional stakes that elevate the film beyond mere shock value, while still maintaining its anarchic spirit.
Cocaine Bear knows exactly what it is and delivers its simple pleasures with an infectious enthusiasm for you to watch it till the end. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a roller coaster that leaves you with a smile on your face and a story to tell. Sometimes, that’s exactly what we need from a night at the movies. Highly recommended, period.
Image—The Cornell Daily Sun
