Elizabeth Banks’ “Cocaine Bear” Unleashes Drug-Fueled Animal Horror On The Big Screen

Cocaine Bear is a documentary about a cocaine-addled bear. The title pretty much sums up the film’s plot. This horror-comedy-thriller directed by Elizabeth Banks, an American actor and, more recently, filmmaker, follows a black bear on a killing spree across Georgia. This is not Paddington Bear; there are drug references and fatalities. And, based on the success of the trailer, audiences will adore this bear who can’t get enough of the snow.

Banks, 49, praised the film’s irreverent tone during a Zoom call from Los Angeles, saying, “I think it is a great reminder not to take everything so fucking seriously.” It’s like riding a fairground roller coaster.” The film is based on a true story and will be released in theatres in February. In 1985, a former narcotics officer who became a drug smuggler lost control of an overloaded plane and dropped 40 cocaine containers. Months later, the body of a black bear was discovered in Georgia, along with clawed-open bags of discarded drugs. The bear had consumed more than 30 kilogrammes (kg) of cocaine, which is equivalent to about $2 million in today’s money. The bear, now dubbed “Pablo Escobear,” was promptly stuffed and relocated to Kentucky.

The bear goes on a rampage in Banks’ film, terrorising visitors who have come to the woods unprepared for such a monstrous surprise. Character actors (Margot Martindale), comedic actors (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and high-profile TV regulars make up the ensemble cast (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys). It will cover a lot of ground, just like the pumped-up bear. Man vs. nature themes have been established in major monster films such as Jaws and Jurassic Park. Keep in mind that nature always triumphs “Banks writes the music. It’s critical to remember this, especially when tampering with nature. And it was all because of the drugs.”

Banks, who has two sons with film producer Max Handelman, believes that parenting entails “following in your parents’ footsteps.” Russell’s character is looking for her missing child, while Alden Ehrenreich’s character is looking for his father’s stash in the woods. To continue the legacy theme, Ehrenreich’s father is played by Ray Liotta in his final film performance. The Goodfellas actor died peacefully in his sleep in May 2022, at the age of 67. The man “charged at it with all his might,” Banks says. I appreciate his support for our silly film.

Banks is no stranger to the spotlight, having previously directed Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Charlie’s Angels, as well as starring in blockbuster franchises such as The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect (2019). “My confidence is growing,” she says, “and I hope it shows in my work.” It also meant having more say in everything, from marketing ideas to potential script additions. Unfortunately for some potential distributors, not even the film’s title was up for discussion. As the director, “the title was really important to me” because it meant more to him than just a name for the film.

However, the most difficult task was locating the titular star. In Ireland, no real bears were endangered during production (County Wicklow stood in for the woods of Georgia). The real bear was played by Allan Henry, a human “bear performer” who learned motion capture from Andy Serkis. (The bear prosthetics he wore were meant to help him remove the cast.) Banks saw Henry’s “soul” in the bear even after the CGI was added.

When it came to creating the film’s visuals, the fact that there wasn’t much footage of bears on coke to study was both a blessing and a curse. Because no one knows how a bear will react to cocaine, we gave it some leeway “Banks make claims. Instead, they worked with Weta Workshop, a visual effects company, to conduct research into the habits of various bear species (black, grizzly, sun, and panda) to ensure that the animal’s coked-up movements were convincing. The bears’ most important metrics, such as sprint speed and vertical leap, were evaluated and improved by the development team. Banks is proud that the film is based on true events. “You think it’s all possible, but it turns out to be a supercharged bear,” he explained.

I’m wondering if it’s possible to sympathise with the real-life bear, who died alone in a cave with a cocaine-filled stomach and no one’s ear to chew on in the midst of the drug-fueled anarchy and woodsy murder. Banks are completely in agreement on this. The bear was killed as a result of the failed drug war, she explains. This film presented me with an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the bear’s vengeance. Perhaps there are times when bloodshed and blows are necessary companions to vengeance, which is usually served cold.

On February 24th, Cocaine Bear will be released.

Get The Latest Updates From The World Of Music, Movies, TV, Culture, And Fashion In Musical States Magazine. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, And LinkedIn To Receive Instantaneous Updates.