Written by Robert Scucci | Published
in 2002 A squirrel doesn't have a single squirrel in it, but it's about a religion full of a bunch of nuts, so maybe that's what writer-director Matt Glass was going for with the title. However, the nuts shown in the A squirrel they are not that bad, and once you know them, they are harmless. Sure, they might try to teach you, and they're probably more than willing to sacrifice people for honey, a fate Nicolas Cage isn't too familiar with. However, they don't make anyone drink any weird Kool-Aid, and they actually serve their guests what looks like real food instead of junk food.
It's not a horror movie, and it's not a comedy, A squirrel it succeeds in subverting every expectation you go for, and makes for a great watch if you're looking for something a little left of center.
It's All About That Red Honey
It may seem at first that not much is happening A squirrelsince it's your typical “couple in the woods gets taken by a cult” show. When we meet Charlotte (Tara Perry) and Casey (Alex Hyner), they're on a camping trip when the latter tries to prove his masculinity by building the worst-looking bonfire he's ever seen. After a series of strange events, which ends with Charlotte seriously injuring her leg, the couple run into Tommy (Thomas Hobson) and Anderson (Tom DeTrinis), who take them into their compound.
Casey, who wanted Charlotte out of her comfort zone in the first place, quickly blames Tommy and Anderson, suspecting foul play. Charlotte, grateful for food and shelter, is very open to their hospitality. It quickly became apparent that the two men were part of a cult that favored a special red type of maple syrup with healing properties, and that their combination had been in trouble for some time.
Worse, it is hinted at, but never clearly explained, that the cult, led by the benevolent and powerful Wilder (Curtis Anderson), may demand human sacrifice to ensure a better honey harvest. Charlotte has reasonable suspicions, but she can't argue with the consequences. His leg injury made him unable to walk, Tommy rubbed red honey on the wound, and he was walking fast.
Casey, who grows increasingly angry and unpredictable as the film moves through its first and second acts, may be more connected to religion than he realizes, but he's too blinded by his paranoia to connect. This combination of personality and miscommunication is what really sells it A squirrelbecause there is no real conflict here other than each character's assumptions about the people they hang out with.
The Third Act Payout is Worth the Wait
Although you may find yourself wondering what is so special A squirrel in time, your patience will be rewarded. It has the kind of twist you'll never see coming, and I say that as someone who almost exclusively watches psychological thrillers. Everyone seems to be doing something, and in many cases they are, but that “thing” they are up to is never expected, it makes everything play out like a fever dream.
A squirrelin all its flawless glory, it's currently streaming for free on Tubi.
