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Trash Fire

Play trailer Poster for Trash Fire R 2016 1h 33m Comedy Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Owen and Isabel's love story simmers with spiteful rage and unfortunately for everyone, Isabel is pregnant with Owen's child. To prove to her that he can become a stable father, Owen agrees to reconnect with his only living relatives at Isabel's request. The couple take a trip to visit his perversely devoted grandmother and his sister Pearl, who was severely burned in a fire, to finally bury the hatchet. But sometimes the ties that bind can cut off all circulation.

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Trash Fire

Trash Fire

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Critics Consensus

Trash Fire has a confidently scabrous appeal, although its unsympathetic characters and nihilistic black comedy may leave a sour taste with some viewers.

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Critics Reviews

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Glenn Kenny New York Times 11/03/2016
A failed American Guignol. Go to Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen Los Angeles Times 11/03/2016
Another soggy batch of Southern Gothic horror-comedy from writer-director Richard Bates Jr. that spews out pitch black smoke with little combustible substance. Go to Full Review Katie Rife AV Club 11/03/2016
B-
At least it's a good-looking orgy of adolescent nihilism, thanks to some clever stylistic touches from Bates and cinematographer Shane Daly. And if hating everyone is kind of your thing, you might get a kick out of it. Go to Full Review Michelle Swope HorrorNews.net 11/06/2019
5/5
All of the performances in this film were strong, but those of Fionnula Flanagan and Angela Trimbur definitely stand out. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 10/03/2019
2/5
A film which doesn't exactly warrant puns on the putrid sort of smell its title evokes, but mistakes abject cynicism for black comedy. Go to Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest 03/01/2019
The filmmaker's confrontational style suggests that hell is other people and he's quite adept keeping the flames rising in that regard. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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10/17/2020 Trash fire is an interesting movie with some good performances and a different story. The ending is a love or hate kind of situation and I did feel a little mixed on it. It’s an interesting little film with some whore elements and definitely gets points for being unique it’s just not as good as it could’ve been. See more 09/12/2018 If you love black comedy, twisted relationships and lesser-known movies I highly recommend this. Actors are excellent and believable. I'd have liked to have seen more from Pearl (Annalynne McCord) though. She's a tragic character reminiscent of Carrie White. Worth a view on Netflix. See more 09/01/2018 Count me in the group that didnt find this scary whatsoever. It has its dark comedic elements but they arent nearly enough to carry the film. See more 11/09/2017 One half black comedy, one half depressing family oriented horror that spirals into a bleak climax See more 04/20/2017 WTF You'll hate every character in the film. And I mean HATE all of them. They each have little to nothing to like about them. They are all deplorable in one way or another. However, there's something about it, you'll want to continue watching to find out about. The movie runs around 1hr 30min. The opening act shouldn't have taken 30 min to get through(more like 15). And with those extra 15min, you couldv'e flushed out enough other aspects to the story, to have made it pretty great. It missed... very much so. However, it has a cult quality, that I have to say, I liked it. See more 03/05/2017 Unexpectedly messed up. Very enjoyable. See more Read all reviews
Trash Fire

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Bates Jr.

Director

Adrian Grenier

Owen

Sibyl Gregory

Chloe

Fionnula Flanagan

Violet

Ezra Buzzington

Pastor Sterling

Matthew Gray Gubler

Caleb

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Trash Fire

Trash Fire (2016) Trash Fire (2016) Trash Fire (2016) Trash Fire (2016) Adrian Grenier as Owen in "Trash Fire." Adrian Grenier as Owen in "Trash Fire." (L-R) Adrian Grenier as Owen, Fionnula Flanagan as Violet and Angela Trimbur as Isabel in "Trash Fire." (L-R) Adrian Grenier as Owen and Angela Trimbur as Isabel in "Trash Fire." A scene from "Trash Fire." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Owen and Isabel's love story simmers with spiteful rage and unfortunately for everyone, Isabel is pregnant with Owen's child. To prove to her that he can become a stable father, Owen agrees to reconnect with his only living relatives at Isabel's request. The couple take a trip to visit his perversely devoted grandmother and his sister Pearl, who was severely burned in a fire, to finally bury the hatchet. But sometimes the ties that bind can cut off all circulation.
Director
Richard Bates Jr.
Producer
Lawrence Mattis, David Lawson Jr., Matt Smith
Screenwriter
Richard Bates Jr.
Distributor
Vertical Entertainment, Orion Releasing
Production Co
Circle of Confusion, Orion Pictures, Snowfort Pictures, Vertical Entertainment
Rating
R (Some Disturbing Behavior|Nudity|Language|Some Disturbing Violence|Strong Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 4, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 30, 2017
Runtime
1h 33m