Elizabeth Banks’ “Cocaine Bear”

Cocaine Bear (2023)

Entertaining set pieces only just hold the film together under the weight of ropey CGI and missed opportunities at suspense and horror

Comedy horror is a terrific genre with classics like Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, Tom Holland’s original Child’s Play(and Fright Night), and Ron Underwood’s Tremors making great use of humour while leaning into the horror which oddly enhances the comedy. These films achieve brooding suspese which makes the stress relief of laughter feel earned. Cocaine Bear has a couple of fleeting moments of terrific humour and horror, but it shies away from fully leaning into this which is a shame because it leaves the remainder of the film oddly flat.

Not reaching the promises of the trailer or the potential of its concept, but okay.