‘NUKED” (Tribeca 2024) Rowdy revelations in dire times

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NUKED Dinner Table
**World Premiere – Spotlight Narrative Category** NUKED

A group of old friends celebrate one couple’s 40th birthday. Booze, cannabis-infused menu, deep secrets, and a single text blow up in their faces in Deena Kashper‘s Tribeca 2024 highlight NUKED.

NUKED Bottom of StairsThe more stoned they get, the more intense the setup as the audience waits for Jack to drop a truth bomb. But that’s the least of their problems when an emergency broadcast message forces our guests to face facts of their past and present.

NUKED boasts a superb comedy ensemble. Natasha Leggero plays Chef Sasha, the cannabis expert and sarcastic wonder kind. I imagine that at least a few of her lines are improvised based on the cast’s reactions. Lucy Punch makes every film more spectacular. Her comic timing is a thing of the gods. As the anxious mother of a newborn, Punch balances heartfelt attachment and sardonic wit like a star.

Justin Bartha has the effortless charm of Jason Bateman. His ability to hold the frame and take you on an emotional journey is always impressive. His physical comedy holds a lot of emotional swings. Bartha is fantastic. Anna Camp is relentlessly funny. She’s a little Energizer Bunny that you feel compelled to watch. Her chemistry with Bartha is a knockout success.

Raunchy and unfiltered, NUKED is a modern take on evergreen issues. It’s hilarious, unapologetic, and a damn good time. Make sure you stay tuned for the credits!


Written and Directed by: Deena Kashper
Story by: Deena Kashper & Danny Kashper
Produced by Julie Christeas, p.g.a., Daryl Freimark, p.g.a., Deena Kashper
Executive Producer: Kerri Elder, Blake Elder, Justin Bartha, Victoria Sidebotham, Jon Stockel, Danny Kashper, Eugene Kashper
Co-Executive Producers: John Balis, Adam Kirszner, Eric Litman
Co-Producer: Emily McCann Lesser, Jeremy Kotin
Starring: Anna Camp, Justin Bartha, Lucy Punch, George Young, Tawny Newsome, Ignacio Serrichio, Maulik Pancholy, Stephen Guarino, Natasha Leggero, and Cole Stockel

Gill Langer (Pitch Perfect’Anna Camp), a relationship podcaster, influencer and oversharer, is celebrating her 40th birthday alongside her husband, Jack Langer (The Hangover’s Justin Bartha), an unassuming educator who wants nothing more than for them to conceive a child. Convening at a lavish estate, she throws a cannabis-infused dinner party with some of her closest friends, couples who are also at a crossroads in their relationships. As the night carries on, the high settles in and the insecurities of their respective relationships come to the surface; everyone gets a sudden phone alert that a nuclear missile is headed directly toward them.You’d be surprised what facing your impending death looks like and how weed, surprisingly, may not be your best ally in this scenario.

Feature | United States | 86 MINUTES | English

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Review: Survive holiday hell and hilarity in Camille Griffin’s ‘SILENT NIGHT’

SILENT NIGHT

 

SYNOPSIS: In true British fashion, (while the rest of the world faces impending doom), a group of old friends reunites to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of an idyllic country home. Burdened with the inconvenience of mankind’s imminent destruction, they adopt a stiff upper lip, crack open another bottle of prosecco and continue with their festivities. But no amount of stoicism can replace the courage needed for their last night on earth.


Writer/Director Camille Griffin gives audiences the gift of holiday hell and hilarity. Think The Big Chill meets Love Actually and sprinkles in Melancholia, as Silent Night finds us rocking around the Christmas tree for, perhaps, the last time. A group of friends makes a pact to spend their Christmas together, with one huge and horrifying caveat. The eclectic holiday soundtrack amps up the energy tenfold. But it’s all a bit of bait and switch. Therein lies the genius that is Silent Night. You think the film is one thing when suddenly BAM. This genre-destroying film will shock you.

Silent Night has an ensemble cast that’s to die for. Keira Knightley strikes the perfect balance of overly stressed host and mother, bringing that quirky charm we know so well. Lucy Punch has the innate ability to be funny without a single word and her talents are elevated by Griffin’s cheeky dialogue. Matthew Goode gives us the gambit of emotions. He’s a solid anchor amongst the spiraling chaos. A standout performance comes from Griffin’s real-life son, Roman Griffin Davis, as Art. After his incredible turn in JoJo Rabbit, it should come as no surprise that he knocks it out of the park here. His fearless honesty spills off the screen, and you will be unable to take your eyes off of him. He steals every scene. 

Even as these chic adults reminisce about what could have been, their children attempt to come to terms with impending doom. Every scene featuring a child is perfection. That is what kids are like, and thank you, Camille Griffin, for including these gems. If you didn’t know she was a parent beforehand, you would as you watched the film play out. The complexity of parenting lies within the overall arc of the film. In truth, this is one of the darkest films I’ve ever seen. If I said I wasn’t shaking from anxiety and crying in the end, I’d be lying. The writing is soaked in acerbic wit. It’s a punch to the face, over and over, all while it begs existential questions of privilege and morality. I could easily see a prequel, sequel, or series in which we follow other locations simultaneously. This is a formal request for such a creation.


AMC+ and RLJE Films will release the darkly comedic drama/horror SILENT NIGHT in Theaters and streaming exclusively on AMC+ on December 3, 2021.


Marking writer Camille Griffin’s feature directorial debut, SILENT NIGHT features an all-star ensemble cast including Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise), Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey), Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), Annabelle Wallis (“Peaky Blinders”), Lily Rose-Depp (Voyagers)Ṣọpé Dìrísù (“Gangs of London”), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“The Good Place”), Lucy Punch (Into the Woods), Rufus Jones (”Flack”) and Trudie Styler (Filth, Moon).