Cheap Thrills Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two dudes lose their jobs and end up in a rich couple’s Saw-inspired party game for cash, resulting in everyone making terrible decisions and regretting everything, especially the audience.

🍿 Cheap Thrills: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Losing Everything

Craig, a struggling family man, faces the worst day of his life. He loses his job as a mechanic and receives an eviction notice, leaving him desperate for a solution to provide for his wife and child. Instead of going home to face the bad news, he ends up at a local bar, hoping to delay the inevitable.

A Dangerous Proposition

At the bar, Craig reconnects with an old high school friend, Vince. They are approached by Colin, a charismatic millionaire, and his wife, Violet. The wealthy couple initiates a series of increasingly twisted dares, offering cash rewards for each completed challenge. The dares start innocently, but quickly escalate in both reward and danger.

The Stakes Escalate

As the night progresses, the dares become more extreme and morally compromising. Craig and Vince find themselves competing against each other, driven by the lure of easy money and the increasing pressure from Colin and Violet. The friendship between Craig and Vince is tested as they descend further into the couple’s twisted game, compromising their values for money.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Craig Daniels (Pat Healy): A struggling family man who descends into increasingly depraved acts for money after losing his job.
• Vince (Ethan Embry): Craig’s old friend and an ex-con who competes with him in the dares, revealing a darker side.
• Colin (David Koechner): A wealthy and sadistic man who orchestrates the increasingly dangerous dares for his and his wife’s amusement.
• Violet (Sara Paxton): Colin’s wife who enjoys watching the games unfold, often with a detached and unsettling demeanor.
• Audrey Daniels (Amanda Fuller): Craig’s wife, who is unaware of the extreme choices he is making to provide for their family.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Colin: “What’s the matter, Craig? You don’t want easy money?” – Colin uses this taunt to tempt Craig further into the increasingly dangerous dares.
• Violet: “Happy birthday to me.” – Violet’s quiet comment underscores the twisted nature of her birthday celebration.
• Vince: “I just want to win, man.” – Vince’s admission reveals his desperation and competitive nature.
• Craig: “This is insane!” – Craig exclaims this as the dares become increasingly extreme and violent.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $200,000
• Domestic Gross: $59,424
• Worldwide Gross: $59,424

💥 Cheap Thrills Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, Cheap Thrills really messed with my head. I went in expecting a fun, dark comedy, but it turned into something way more intense. The scene where they had to… well, I can’t even say it… that’s when I knew this movie was going to stay with me. I felt so uncomfortable, but I couldn’t look away! I give it a 9/10, but be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies and thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in social commentary on class and greed”
  • “Those who enjoy independent films with strong performances”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Disturbing themes”
  • “Animal cruelty (implied)”

Professional Reviews

• IndieFilm Monthly: “Cheap Thrills is a darkly comic and disturbing look at class division, elevated by strong performances from Healy and Koechner. The film brilliantly escalates tension, pushing boundaries of good taste while posing uncomfortable questions about human desperation.
• Horror Haven: “E.L. Katz delivers a twisted and entertaining film that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. Cheap Thrills blends dark humor with shocking violence to create a memorable and unsettling experience.

Audience Reactions

David Koechner’s performance was surprisingly dark and hilarious, making him the perfect villain.: The film’s escalation of dares kept viewers on the edge of their seats.

Overall Consensus: Cheap Thrills is a dark, disturbing, and often funny exploration of human desperation and the corrupting influence of money, though its extreme content isn’t for everyone.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot in just 15 days with a very limited budget of around $200,000.”
• “The dares in the movie were designed to escalate gradually, testing the limits of the characters and the audience.”
• “Director E.L. Katz encouraged improvisation from the actors to create a more natural and unsettling atmosphere.”

🖥️ How to Watch Cheap Thrills?

Currently, ‘Cheap Thrills’ is available for purchase or rental on platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for potential streaming options on services like Prime Video or Hulu, as availability can vary by region. You can also purchase the physical DVD or Blu-ray from retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Cheap Thrills, you might like these similar films:

• Would You Rather (2012): Explores the dark side of human behavior when faced with desperate choices for money.
• 13 Sins (2014): A man accepts increasingly disturbing challenges for money, revealing the dark depths of human nature.
• Parasite (2019): Highlights the class divide and the desperation of those struggling to survive, leading to dark and twisted outcomes.
• Funny Games (1997): Explores the disturbing nature of violence and the wealthy preying on the less fortunate.

🛒 Cheap Thrills Related Products

• Cheap Thrills (Blu-ray): Own the shocking and darkly funny film on Blu-ray, complete with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and director commentary. Relive the cheap thrills again and again, if you dare.
• Would You Rather… (The Game of Nasty Choices): Inspired by the film’s premise, this party game challenges players to make impossible choices between two terrible options. Perfect for game nights with friends who have a dark sense of humor.
• Cheap Thrills Movie Poster: Show off your love for this unforgettable film with this high-quality print. A great conversation starter, the disturbing poster is sure to be a great conversation starter in any room.
• “I Dare You” – Personalized Challenge Coin: Inspired by the dares in the movie, this coin can be customized with unique engravings. Challenge your friends for fun or for high stakes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Cheap Thrills features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “I Suppose” – performed by Haunt

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

ONE HOUR PHOTO: Revisiting Robin Williams’ Most Terrifying Movie

Ever seen ‘One Hour Photo’? It’s a seriously unsettling movie starring Robin Williams that digs into some pretty dark themes, kinda like ‘Cheap Thrills.’ This video breaks down why it’s so effective, and honestly, it gave me chills!

✨ Rate