Threat (film)

For films with a similar title, see Threat (disambiguation).

Threat
DVD box. Designed by Robert Anthony Jr. Photos: James Dimaculangan, Jason Rose.
Directed byMatt Pizzolo
Written by
  • Matt Pizzolo
  • Katie Nisa
Produced byKatie Nisa
Starring
  • Carlos Puga
  • Keith Middleton
  • Rebekka Takamizu
  • Katie Nisa
  • Kamouflage
  • Neil Rubenstein
  • David R. Fisher
  • Tony Dreannan
  • Justin Brannan
CinematographyBenjamin Brancato
Edited byBrian Giberson
Music by
Production
company
  • Kings Mob Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 8, 1999 (1999-01-08) (CBGB, New York City)
  • January 21, 1999 (1999-01-21) (Park City, Utah)
  • October 13, 2000 (2000-10-13) (London, UK)
  • January 20, 2006 (2006-01-20) (US)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Threat (2006) is an independent film about a straightedge "hardcore kid" and a hip hop revolutionary whose friendship is doomed by the intolerance of their respective street tribes. It is an ensemble film of kids and young adults living in the early-to-mid-90s era of New York City's all-time highest ever murder rate, each of them suffering from a sense of doom brought on by dealing with HIV, racism, sexism, class struggle, and general nihilism.

The intellectual issues are played out amid an aesthetic of raw ultraviolence that has earned director Matt Pizzolo both accolades and condemnations (such as Film Threat's rave review stating "great art should assail the status quo, and that is what Pizzolo and Nisa's film has skillfully accomplished" [1] in contrast to Montreal Film Journal's scathing review saying the film "openly glorifies murderous revolt, literally telling the audience to go out and beat up random people, just because").[2] [citation needed]

Unlike past urban dramas, the film does not outright condemn its characters' violent outbursts. Although it does show harsh consequences for acts of violence, numerous critics have pointed out that it is unclear whether or not the film intends to glorify violence and/or class conflict.[1][2][3][4]

  1. ^ Holo, VJ. "Threat". Suicide Girls. May 5, 2006.
  2. ^ Laforest, Kevin. "Threat". Montreal Film Journal. January 27, 2006.
  3. ^ Manley, Brendan. "Culture Clash: NY Filmmakers Tackle Race, Politics, Sex and Social Unrest With 'Threat'". Long Island Press. January 12, 2006.
  4. ^ Handelman, Jon. "All Hell Breaks Loose On The Lower East Side Archived 2009-08-14 at the Wayback Machine". McGill Daily. February 3, 2006.