Low Life (2022 film)

Last updated
Low Life
Directed byTyler Michael James
Written byHunter Milano, Noah Rotter
Produced byTyler Michael James, Hunter Milano
StarringWes Dunlap, Lucas Neff, Lucy Parks Urbano, Luna Montana, Hunter Milano, Jake Dvorsky, Devin Sidell, Marguerite Moreau
CinematographyIan Hussey
Edited byZoe Bower
Music byZach Michel
Production
companies
Ad Opus Productions, M Suite Media
Distributed byXYZ Films
Release date
  • August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$325,000

Low Life is a 2022 American crime drama thriller film directed by Tyler Michael James in his feature film debut. [1] It follows Benny, a small-time YouTube star who catches online predators, as he experiences a night from hell after inviting one of them into his home. [2] The screenplay was co-written by Hunter Milano and Noah Rotter. [3]

Contents

Plot

Benny Jansen is a minor YouTube personality who runs a channel called Creep Dunk, dedicated to exposing online predators. Posing as an underage girl in chat rooms, Benny arranges confrontations with men who respond to his fabricated profiles. These encounters, captured on video and shared with his growing audience, have garnered him moderate internet fame but also criticism for his vigilante tactics. Local law enforcement publicly condemns Benny’s actions, stating that his methods often render cases inadmissible in court, doing more harm than good.

Despite the warnings, Benny remains steadfast in his belief that his work serves the greater good. His latest target, Jason, is a high school teacher and the father of one of his teenage fan Nicole’s friends. Nicole provides Benny with evidence she believes implicates Jason as a predator. Eager to confront Jason and record another viral takedown, Benny accelerates his usual process and invites Jason to his home under the guise of arranging a meeting with the fictional teenage girl.

The confrontation begins subtly, with Benny attempting to maintain composure while manipulating Jason into admitting his crimes on hidden camera. However, as tensions rise, the encounter quickly spirals out of control. Benny’s two friends, the cautious Sam and the volatile Ryan, are drawn into the situation during a chaotic poker night. Their varying loyalties and moral boundaries complicate Benny’s plans, leading to violent and unforeseen consequences.

Cast

Production

Low Life was produced by Tyler Michael James, Noah Rotter, Annie Milligan, Hunter Milano, and Jake Dvorsky under the banner of Ad Opus Productions and M Suite Media. [4]

Ian Hussey served as the cinematographer, Zach Michel composed the score, and Zoe Bower handled editing duties. The film’s production budget was reported to be approximately USD $325,000. [1]

Release and availability

In August 2022, XYZ Films acquired the North American distribution rights to Low Life, announcing the film would be released later that month, alongside an official trailer. [4] The film premiered in the United States on August 25, 2022. On October 30, 2022, it had its European Premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London as part of the festival’s “Screamdance” strand, an indie-focused section highlighting horror, thriller, and suspense films. [5] [6] The film is available through multiple digital platforms, including Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu/Fandango, Microsoft, and Redbox. [7]

Reception

As of January 2025, Low Life holds a 78% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 9 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.8 out of 10. [8]

Erik Piepenburg of The New York Times described Tyler Michael James’s feature film debut as "a suspenseful thriller about the making of a modern predator and the perils of internet notoriety." [9] Several critics praised its commentary on social-media narcissism, toxic masculinity, and the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that escalates into a “blood-soaked” conclusion. [10] [11]

Reviewers also discussed the moral gray area of Benny’s vigilante stings. Although he exposes child predators, local law enforcement finds his methods legally problematic and counterproductive, a dilemma critics compared to real-world To Catch a Predator scenarios. [12] [13] Multiple outlets highlighted Benny’s unresolved trauma and arrested development, pointing to his high-school basketball glory days as a key facet of his personality and his obsessive need to reclaim a sense of purpose. [14] [15]

Sean Patrick of Vocal Media highlighted the film’s critique of the dangers of YouTube fame, [16] while TILT Magazine called it a "non-stop thrilling ride that keeps the audience caught between sickened and satisfied." [17] Several reviewers additionally noted the film’s sense of dread that underpins its final act, praising the script for its careful escalation of tension. [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Low Life". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "Low Life – Official Site". XYZ Films. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Low Life – Official Synopsis". Low Life Official Website. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (18 August 2022). "XYZ Films Boards 'Low Life' – Cat-And-Mouse Thriller From Director Tyler Michael James & 'Marriage Story' Actor Lucas Neff — Trailer". Deadline. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "30th Raindance Programme Announced". Raindance Film Festival. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Raindance Film Festival: Low Life Screening". Raindance Film Festival. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Low Life on XYZ Films". XYZ Films. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Low Life (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Piepenburg, Erik (16 September 2022). "Five Horror Movies to Stream Now". The New York Times . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Peterbencze, Akos (December 29, 2022). "'Low Life' Is a Blood-Soaked Cautionary Tale". Certified Forgotten. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Review: Low Life". Daily Dead. 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "'Low Life' (2022) Review – A Chaotic Modern Cautionary Tale For The Digital Age". Geek Vibes Nation. August 31, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "'Low Life' Is a Blood-Soaked Cautionary Tale". Certified Forgotten. December 29, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Review: Low Life, Stalking a Predator on a Night From Hell". Screen Anarchy. August 22, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "'Low Life' Is a Blood-Soaked Cautionary Tale". Certified Forgotten. December 29, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Movie Review: Low Life Highlights the Dark Side of YouTube Fame". Vocal. November 21, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Marks-Joseph, Andrea (September 3, 2022). "Low Life Is an Edge of Your Seat All-In Revenge Trip". TILT Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Review: Tyler Michael James' taut thriller 'LOW LIFE' never lets you get comfortable". Reel News Daily. August 24, 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
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