Film Review: Swallowed (2022) | HNN

SYNOPSIS:

Follows two best friends on their final night together, with a nightmare of drugs, bugs, and horrific intimacy.

REVIEW:

Swallowed was written and directed by Carter Smith. Benjamin portrayed by Cooper Koch (They/Them) and Dom (Jose Colon) are partying, and living their best life. Benjamin is taking off to start a new life, and Dom seems to have some secrets and stuff he wants to do before Benjamin leaves. I checked out IMDB and this is Jose Colon’s first film. Jose is amazing. Benjamin and Dom leave the bar and make a stop. We meet Alice portrayed by Jena Malone (Antebellum, Too Old to Die Young, Stardust, The Neon Demon). You get it, Jena was in so many films and shows.

Ben and Dom are having a good time at the bar and Ben is leaving soon. Dom winds up in one hell of situation. He has to make a delivery for Alice. Alice is not taking no shit, and she wants this job done.

The iconic Mark Patton from A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Hotel, Amityville Clownhouse, and more also stars in Swallowed. So, it seems that Dom has himself in some deep shit, deep, deep shit. Alice wants Dom to deliver drugs, and he has to swallow all this shit. WHY? WHY?

This movie is beautiful and the story is beautiful yet tragic. It’s scary because fentanyl is so abused right now. This movie feels like it’s trying to dive deep into what’s going on in the world now. Alice has them swallow all this shit, and it’s not just drugs though. I don’t know if it’s worse or scarier? The story is so fascinating, and this cast just brings it. They do such a great job together. Mark Patton and Jena Malone feed off of one another. Jose Colon and Cooper Koch also feed off of one another. Cooper brings his whole heart and soul into this role.

Dom experiences some wild shit trying to shit the drug baggies he swallowed out. He also finds out some wild information courtesy of Alice after something goes terribly wrong. I mean, your swallowing drug baggies, what could possibly go wrong? Ben is trying to help and get Dom out of this situation but he’s part of it now. They wind up at this insolated place, and they are trying to get these drug baggies out. This is some wild shit. It gets crazier.

Carter Smith delivered with cinematography, special effects, a storyline that we truly haven’t seen before. Alice and Mark Patton’s character try to get the ball rolling by getting these buggy drug bags out of Ben and Dom. I would leave, I would haul ass. Dom doesn’t look too good. This is nerve-wracking. I want to root for them. I want Dom and Ben to be okay and I don’t think it’s going to happen.

Ben wanted to have a great night, be with Dom, and just get ready to travel. Ben is trying to keep Dom okay. This isn’t easy to see them go through all of this. It’s heartbreaking. Ben is genuine and you get that he loves Dom. He has this kindness to him. You do see in his eyes that he’s losing his shit. He’s seen some things in life but this is an entirely different level.

It’s still scary because Carter Smith came up with this incredible story. It was different. It wasn’t the same stuff over and over. Mark Patton’s character is working hard to break Ben down. Movies like Alien and The Invasion of the Body Snatchers definitely remind me of this film. The ending is a WOW-moment. I would recommend watching SWALLOWED. Make sure to check out the film, and get into the craziness.