In Villains, we follow fiercely incompetent thieves/lovers Mickey (Bill Skarsgard) and Jules (Maika Monroe) as they rob various gas stations in an effort to amount enough cash to run to Florida so they can open their own shell shop. Unfortunately, shortly after their last heist their car runs out of gas, leaving them both stranded near a nice house. Hoping to steal the owner's (George, played by Jeffrey Donovan and Gloria, played by Kyra Sedgewick) car, they break into the house only to find a young girl (Sweetiepie, played by Blake Baumgartner) chained in the basement. Mickey wants to get out of dodge fast, sensing trouble, but reluctantly goes along with Jules' wishes to free the girl. Not a wise choice, as they both find themselves roped into George and Gloria's sick games.
Villains is a fun, goofy, dark horror-comedy. The main reason it works as well as it does is due to it's superb cast, each of whom is working hard to elevate the material they are given. Skarsgard and Monroe easily sell their roles as a love-struck couple who are clearly in over their heads. They have great chemistry together (The "Car Wash" thing they do may be my new personal thing), and both prove to be competent at odd moments despite themselves. Donovan and Sedgwick are great as a husband/wife who's love for each other, as well as their backstories, are appropriately twisted and warped. They are all clearly having fun here, especially Skarsgard, who gets to play against type as the "hero" of the film. He is the stand-out as a goofy/dorky well-meaning dummy. He steals every scene he appears in, and it's hard to take your eyes off him whenever he's on screen. It's nice to see Skargard play a normal dude for a change, in a role where he doesn't have to wear copious amounts of make-up. It's not his best role....but he is still immensely entertaining and enjoyable, and puts on a strong, comedic performance.
Villains is a small-scale film that is set in one, singular, contained location. It starts with a good deal of potential, but once Jules and Mickey are captured it all starts to become a little stale/dull but still enjoyable (Some things don't fully add up/make sense as well once you sit down to think about it). There is a clear sense that the roles/material are beneath all the actors involved, and the ending doesn't feel completely earned (They try to add in some gravitas during the final scenes, and it feels odd and out-of-place. It doesn't gel with the rest of the movie). The film has a tough time balancing the humorous tone with it's darker/more serious elements, making the whole thing feel more than a little uneven. It's directed and written by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who don't appear to have much experience under their belts. The script is fun and fine, but I'd say directing wise it may have been best to have roped in someone else.
In the end, I can't say Villains is a film that needs to be seen on the big screen (unless you are a huge fan of any of the actors involved). Despite the talent involved, it is likely better suited at home on your TV. Villains is certainly a lot of fun, but isn't quite as memorable or good as one would have hoped. That said, it's still worth a watch for the performances alone, just wait until it's released to Blu-ray.
3 STARS
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