Overview
A man's life spirals out of control after a fateful night of self-defense turns into a nightmare of threats and paranoia.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- seedy
- tense
- pulpy
- late night thriller viewing
- neo-noir double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a tense, stylish, twist-filled neo-noir elevated by careful craft and memorable performances, while noting its increasingly convoluted genre shifts.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story shifts from a home-invasion thriller into revenge noir and a violent crime investigation involving Jim Bob and Russell.
The 1989 Texas setting, VHS-era details, night photography, and corrupt-crime atmosphere create a distinctly retro noir texture.
Richard's accidental shooting inside his home transforms his family life and forces him into escalating confrontations with dangerous men.
Ben's grief over his murdered son and Richard's determination to protect Ann and his child drive the film's central conflict.
Films like Cold in July, and why
Blue Ruin
Shares a pulpy neo-noir atmosphere, escalating criminal conspiracy, morally compromised protagonists, and sudden shifts in genre tone.
Blood Simple
Combines small-town crime, family stakes, brutal violence, and a deliberately stylized revenge-thriller sensibility.
Red Rock West
Uses retro crime conventions, dark humor, conspiratorial plotting, and an increasingly unpredictable descent into violence.
A History of Violence
Pairs domestic vulnerability with criminal danger, revenge motives, and a seedy, tension-heavy neo-noir tone.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jim Mickle
- Release Date
- 2014-05-23
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (848)
Cast
- Michael C. Hall
- Don Johnson
- Sam Shepard
- Vinessa Shaw
- Nick Damici
- Wyatt Russell
- Lanny Flaherty
- Brianda Agramonte
- Tim Lajcik
- Brogan Hall
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cold in July about?
- After killing a burglar in self-defense, a Texas family man is pulled into a volatile web of revenge, criminal deception, and vigilante justice.
- What is Cold in July like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cold in July as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Cold in July violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Cold in July as graphic.
- What did critics think of Cold in July?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a tense, stylish, twist-filled neo-noir elevated by careful craft and memorable performances, while noting its increasingly convoluted genre shifts.
- Which films are like Cold in July?
- Films with a similar feel include Blue Ruin, Blood Simple, Red Rock West, and A History of Violence.
- How long is Cold in July?
- Cold in July runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cold in July?
- In United States, Cold in July streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
