Kevin Smith isn’t a great director. The man knows how to write and bring out compelling characters, but he has never had a gifted visual eye. He hasn’t necessarily needed to, but with Cop Out this weakness was apparent and a detriment to the film. With his next project, Red State, he aims to surprise with this religious thriller starring Michael Parks, John Goodman, Kevin Pollak, Melissa Leo, Stephen Root, Kyle Gallner, and Michael Angarano.
The first trailer has surfaced on CoopersDell, a site dedicated to the film. It definitely looks like a surprise is in store. Granted this is just a tease, but it looks to be Smith’s most visually interesting film and exploration of a completely new area for the writer/director. See it below.
Synopsis: A group of kids encounters a crazed preacher (based on Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church) who gives a whole new meaning to the term “extreme fundamentalism.”
Red State will premiere on January 23rd, 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it will be auctioned off to the top bidder at the post-screening Q&A.
What do you think of the teaser? Do you have faith in Smith?