First Ever Theatrical Release 'RATS!'

The first-ever theatrical release from Obscured Pictures and Yellow Veil Pictures’ coming-of-age comedy 'RATS!' by an unknown filmmaking duo, Maxwell Nalevansky and Carl Fry. Nalevansky and Fry would like you to RSVP to a wild backyard cookout that you don’t want to miss out on experiencing this chaotic party of a chuckle-fest.

Premiered through the film festival circuit, follows a small-time emo punk rock community college 19-year-old, Raphael, who graffiti his mark in Fresno, Texas, in 2007, following Raphael under arrest for graffiti. After a few moments, Raphael sits in the county jail; he is pushed to move in with his cousin Mateo. Under the surveillance of the FBI to the satirized cutthroat female TV news reporter with her lackey Cameraman and husband, just rich kids with zero responsibilities, a female police officer with delusional suspicions, and a vengeful vendetta against Raphael and Mateo. ‘RATS!’ is a case of misunderstanding tied with absurdity, where you will find yourself chuckling while immersing in emo punk culture.

Nalevansky and Fry's ‘RATS!’ is a ride of motion between the vibrant hues of the small-town backdrop, the cultural references to the zane laidback exterior that hits nicely every time, and the emo punk-rock aesthetic. ‘RATS!’ is a curated Millennial music playlist set against the small-time regions in the US of the 2007 recession alongside twisted gross-out humor. Filmmakers make it clear that ‘RATS!’ reflects on the time when the rest of the United States, New York, in particular, is figuring out a way to move forward post-9/11 world, while the rest is just low-key at the peak of the Obama era.

However, the designated soundtrack plays as a background in ‘RATS! Features up-and-coming names from Epitaph Records, such as Thursday, Blood Brothers, Ka5sh & YungSkrrt, and much more.

Filmmakers Nalevansky and Fry have a planned vision to reboot the anarchic spirit of Troma and John Waters films, incorporating an ecstatically punk alongside a pink story in ‘RATS!’. However, filmmakers reflect in ‘RATS!’ that gets lost in translation when compared to other millennial stories about the rebellious anti-authority generation in their refusal to just please grow up.

Yellow Veil Pictures presented unhinged, brash, and unfiltered humor with a diverse casting and performance from Luke Wilcox as Raphael, Khali Skyes as Bernadette, Darius R. Autry as Mateo, Danielle Evon Ploeger as Officer Williams, and much more. Over-the-top hilarity can fill an awkward silence in the room due to the brazen nature of the film is expecting whoever stumbles upon this film when the Video on Demand release drops.

This critic, who screened this film a few months ago, found the anarchic humor in Yellow Veil Pictures’ ‘RATS!’ was not at all a bother but a refreshing sip of a cherry limeade. Yes, the film can leave viewers turned off by the film’s grossness as a comedy. Filmmakers get right in ‘RATS!’ is the 2007 cultural references, and fashion trend of the time, in addition to everything else, is a 2007 representation.

Initially, this critic had to watch the film again, ‘RATS!’ is a letter in reflection on feeling closer to the past and channeling young adolescence through the rearview mirror about the mundane, overlooked landscapes post-9/11.

Longtime friends Nalevansky and Fry revealed in ‘RATS!’ that the focus is just that, with ties to scrutinize the human experience in suburban south as an overt, transparent comedy set in a bygone era against echoing colorings and an audacious song list.

‘RATS!’ was released for the first time this year in theaters on February 28 and Video On Demand (VOD), March 11.