Movie Review: John Schneider's 4:GO (2017)

4:GO (2017) - USA (Louisiana) - Action Thriller - Not Rated (Mature)Written & Directed by John SchneiderStarring Kerry Cahill, Dean Cain, Marcus Bagwell, Jason Kirkpatrick, Johnny Lee, Billy Slaughter, Eddie Love, Jody Mullins, Don Shanks, Harrison St. John, Mickey Gilley, John Schneider
Keeps the viewer on their toes between bouts of falling down laughing in a fast moving mix of action, horror and comedy.
Four murderers escape from a maximum security prison with a hostage in tow as they head for the woods. Misjudging their hostage is only the first sign of their bumbling, matched only by the ineptitude of the posse trying to catch them. But they're not alone in the woods on this Halloween, and they will wish they had stayed in solitary confinement.
John Schneider is time and again proving himself to not only be a diverse actor and director, but also one of the top writer/directors of black comedy. In a genre that is easy to do, but difficult to do well, he does it very well taking the dark and tragic and approaching it with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
4:GO takes no prisoners (bwhahahaha) in bursting out of the gate at full gallop and not letting up on the pace. It begins with a mystery teaser of just audio that sounds like a couple and their child having a play day then moving straight into its story. It may seem confusing at first compared to some of things going on, but that's intentional as John Schneider uses bits and pieces of mystery to up the tension. Additionally he makes good use of the briefest of interstices, being he also edited this, which flash here and there, and though they seem to confuse in actuality he has creatively spiked the pace of the film with them. And before you know it, an 88 minute movie is over and you're like "wow, that didn't seem that long."
There feels like an occasional stumble, but this as much can be because of keeping the audience guessing and with its expeditious pace it is easy to get out of sync at one point or another, plus some ambiguity, but it does fall into place anyway. For me there's a point where it feels morose, losing its humor, but that does not affect the structure of the film, just the mood, as the film continues to move along as before.
Kerry Cahill, Johnny Lee and Jason Kirkpatrick shine is this. Cahill brings character to her performance with choice dialog and spot-on delivery. Jason Kirkpatrick has his character of Forest nailed down providing humor in every moment he occupies. Johnny Lee is simply fantastic just being in this movie as he is a character unto himself and that adds to the fun. Eddie Love is a great foil for Lee's character often delivering some of the funniest lines. Special mention goes to John Schneider.. er.. I mean Harrison St. John who not only reminds one of a young John Schneider but his character is named Bo; well played.
The movie itself invokes that classic 70s revenge film motif as Schneider injects lots of humor, action, and bits of mystery. 4:GO is a fun movie to watch that has energy and abounds in laughs, and yes gruesome at times, but not too much. Though I watched it solo I'm betting this would be even more fun with several friends over for a movie night. Too bad my local drive-in has closed because this would perfect for a fun night at the drive-in.
My Rating: 4 Fingers
You can rent or buy 4:GO on Vimeo
Get John Schneider music, movies and merchandise on his Official Website