Stuck somewhere between being a gory horror-comedy film and a creature feature, Cocaine Bear was loosely based on a true story that added more intrigue to its stranger-than-fiction plot. Elizabeth Banks took the helm as director, and it must be said, did a great job making the film an enjoyable one, albeit not one likely to ever reach any higher echelons of acclaim beyond MTV Awards.
It dealt with a story of a drug smuggler who indiscriminately dumps a plane load of cocaine, much of which winds up scattered throughout the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Meant as a drop for a local drug kingpin, the bulk of the score ended up going straight up an American Black Bear's nose after the creature came across stashes of it and learned of its exhilarating effects. The bear developed a taste for the stuff and went on a cocaine-fueled frenzy, killing and maiming anyone who got in its path.
With an eclectic cast, and plenty of comedy, gore, and just good, old-fashioned entertainment, the film made for a fun watch. With a cult following, many fans have praised Banks for daring to take on the story in the first place, and for choosing to do it in a manner as absurd as the concept itself, rather than trying to push it as a serious dramatic film. With many familiar faces present in the film, here's what else you may know the film's main cast members from.
Elizabeth Banks
While she never appeared in the film itself, one of the most prominent names attached to Cocaine Bear was, of course, Elizabeth Banks, who served as the film's director. Banks is a well known actress, famous for her roles in raunchy comedies like Zack and Miri Make a Porno and for roles like Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games films.
Beautiful, funny, and very popular, Banks is now also respected as a director. Aside from Cocaine Bear, she's also directed Charlie's Angels (2019), Movie 43, and Pitch Perfect 2. Given the cult popularity of Cocaine Bear, Banks is reportedly also looking to direct a sequel.
Ray Liotta
Playing the drug kingpin from the town who loses his stash of cocaine to the bear, Ray Liotta is a legendary actor who sadly passed away shortly before Cocaine Bear was released. His long and distinguished career has seen him appear in many amazing films, and across a wealth of great TV shows as well.
He's been in films like Hannibal, the sequel to Silence of the Lambs, where he shared a memorable dinner scene with Anthony Hopkins' iconic character, Hannibal Lector. An award-winning actor, Liotta has had numerous acclaimed performances but is probably best known for his outstanding role in Martin Scorsese's Good Fellas. Despite his death, he currently also has two other films that were given posthumous releases.
Keri Russell
A very familiar face and an icon of TV, Keri Russell played a mother in Cocaine Bear, though one who becomes wrapped up in the bear's rampage when her daughter, Dee Dee, and her young friend Henry, are attacked by it. She's appeared in many great films like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
She's currently best known for playing the main role in the hit show, TheDiplomat. However, Russell is best known for her role as Felicity Porter in Felicity. She won a Golden Globe for that role, amid many other notable nominations for it.
O'Shea Jackson Jr.
The son of legendary rapper, Ice Cube, O'Shea Jackson Jr. has proven to be one of the brightest up-and-coming actors of the last decade. Playing Daveed in Cocaine Bear, his character was an enforcer and runner for the drug operation that was meant to intercept the cocaine drop before the bear got to it.
Jackson Jr. notably played his own father in Straight Outta Comptonwhich served as a biographical film for the iconic hip-hop group, NWA. His other notable roles include playing the brilliantly devious mastermind in Den of Thieves, which has a sequel in the works. He's also appeared in the Star Wars miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
With acting credits that go back as far as his first film appearance in Gremlins 2, Isiah Whitlock Jr. also starred in Ray Liotta's Good Fellas. He's since had numerous appearances across many notable films and TV shows.
In Cocaine Bear, he played Bob, a somewhat naive, but ultimately heroic detective who's been pursuing the drug smuggling ring responsible for the cocaine drop that causes all the chaos. Funny and affable as ever in the role, Isiah Whitlock Jr. is probably best known for his role as a corrupt senator in the gritty show, The Wire. He's also been a frequent collaborator of iconic director, Spike Lee.
Alden Ehrenreich
With appearances in popular shows like Supernatural, Alden Ehrenreich has also worked with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola in the legendary director's film, Tetro. In Cocaine Bear, he played Eddie, the son of the drug kingpin trying to hunt down his cocaine stash.
More mild-mannered, and a terminal disappointment to his father, Eddie has to accompany Daveed to find the cocaine. A rising star, Alden Ehrenreich notably landed a role in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and has since also gained notoriety for his role in Netflix's erotic thriller, Fair Play.
Margo Martindale
One of the standout performers in Cocaine Bear, Margo Martindale's role as a Park Ranger added a hilarious edge to its lighter elements. Cutting a grumpy and cavalier figure, her duels with the bear made for some of the most entertaining and gruesome parts of the film.
Margo is a well known actress who's also a four-time Emmy Award nominee for her role in The Americans, winning one of them. She's also well known for role in Justified for which she won a Primetime Emmy. An acclaimed actress, she's been in notable films like August: Osage Country where she starred alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. She's also had prominent roles in famous shows like TheGoodWife.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Playing the role of Peter, a wildlife activist who doesn't believe the stories about the bear until he's thrown headlong into its path, Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a well known actor and was very funny in the film.
Ferguson is best known for playing Mitchell in the hit showModern Family. His long-running role in the show earned him multiple nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards. However, he's also been in films like 8, and performed a voice role in Ice Age: Collision Course. As far as TV roles, Ferguson was also in other popular shows like Ugly Betty.
Brooklynn Prince
A child actor who's so far proven to be very adept as a young performer, Brooklynn Prince played Dee Dee in Cocaine Bear. A somewhat bratty child, she ends up missing after the bear's rampage begins, leaving her mother (Keri Russell) desperate to find her.
So far, her roles have been in films, and she's starred in some notable ones like The Turning and Settlers. Still barely a teenager, Prince has already earned herself many award nominations and wins for her roles so far, and the young star seems set to have a stellar career ahead of her.
Christian Convery
A Canadian child actor, Christian Convery played Dee Dee's friend, Henry, in Cocaine Bear. Commencing with some memorably comedic moments in the film, Henry and Dee Dee find some of the cocaine. Henry tries to impress her and says that he's done cocaine many times. She asks him to show her, and thankfully, Henry doesn't really know how to use it, so he initially puts a handful of the stuff in his mouth before spitting it out.
Scenes like these drew some criticism for the film going a little overboard at times. Here's a bit of what The Verge had to say about that.
Simply by spelling out and then relentlessly over-delivering on its ridiculous premise for an hour and a half, Cocaine Bear immediately sets itself apart (in a good way) from many of the more comedic “cerebral” horrors and thrillers the film draws inspiration from. But fun as the movie is, the same extra-ness that makes it work so well at first very quickly becomes more than a bit too much as Cocaine Bear keeps trying to up the ante when what it really needs is to slow down and chill out."
Despite its criticism, young Christian Convery, at just 13, was great in it. He's already wracked up an impressive list of acting credits that include parts in an episode of Supernatural, and roles in other shows like Van Helsing and Lucifer. Following his role in Cocaine Bear, he also performed a voice role in the highly anticipated Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
So, there we are, with its eclectic cast and memorable moments, Cocaine Bear is a great watch for those who enjoy gory creature features or comedy horrors. If you haven't seen it yet, it makes for a perfect addition to add to your list for spooky season.
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