7.2
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama, Thriller • 2014 • 109 min • Adults (18+)
Cold in July (2014)
Cold in July (2014)
Overview
Set in late-1980s Texas, Cold in July follows a mild-mannered family man who shoots a burglar in his home and then discovers the killing was far messier than it appeared. The story pivots from home-invasion thriller to something darker involving corruption, crime networks, and rough justice. The Traditional label fits without much argument. The film treats vigilante action and personal accountability as legitimate responses when institutions fall short, a recurring motif in Southern crime fiction. A conventional nuclear family anchors the protagonist's motivation. There are no progressive identity themes in play. The period setting, the male-led cast, and the genre's deep roots in individualist Texas noir all pull in the same direction.
Starring Cast
Michael C. Hall • Sam Shepard • Don Johnson
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Traditional
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Family Values: Mixed
Viewer Rating
7.2
Overview
Set in late-1980s Texas, Cold in July follows a mild-mannered family man who shoots a burglar in his home and then discovers the killing was far messier than it appeared. The story pivots from home-invasion thriller to something darker involving corruption, crime networks, and rough justice. The Traditional label fits without much argument. The film treats vigilante action and personal accountability as legitimate responses when institutions fall short, a recurring motif in Southern crime fiction. A conventional nuclear family anchors the protagonist's motivation. There are no progressive identity themes in play. The period setting, the male-led cast, and the genre's deep roots in individualist Texas noir all pull in the same direction.
Starring Cast
Michael C. Hall • Sam Shepard • Don Johnson
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Traditional
Primary
Political: Leans Right
Confidence: High
The film champions individual, extra-legal action and vigilante justice as the necessary solution when official institutions fail to address profound evil, aligning with themes of individual responsibility and skepticism of government.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The movie features a predominantly traditional cast, with no explicit DEI-driven recasting or race/gender swaps of traditionally white roles. Its narrative focuses on genre-specific themes of crime, justice, and masculinity, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or making DEI themes central to its story.
Secondary
Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: Medium
The film depicts a conventional nuclear family with generally traditional gender roles, but these elements serve primarily as a backdrop and motivation for the thriller plot rather than being explicitly celebrated or critiqued.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: Medium
The film 'Cold in July' does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its narrative. The story centers on a heterosexual protagonist, his family, and his involvement in a crime thriller, without incorporating queer identities or experiences.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: Low
The film 'Cold in July' does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The narrative centers on a cisgender man's accidental killing of an intruder and the subsequent unraveling of a criminal conspiracy, with no elements related to transsexual identity or experiences explored within the plot or character arcs.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is an adaptation of a novel. All primary and significant characters in the film retain the same gender as established in the original source material. There are no instances of characters being portrayed with a different gender than their canonical depiction.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is an adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's novel. All major characters, including Richard Dane, Ben Russell, and Jim Bob Luke, are portrayed by actors whose race aligns with their descriptions in the original source material.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.7
6.5
Critic Ratings
8.4
7.3
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