Dexter Fans Must See Dark R-Rated Crime Thriller Adaptation On Paramount+ Everyone Overlooked

Like Dexter, the film is an adaptation of fiction, one providing a chilling, suspenseful journey through the underbelly of crime (ah, the underbelly of crime: our favorite underbelly)—all deftly woven by Jim Mickle’s directorial sensibility. Mickle is justifiably regarded as a powerhouse of atmospheric tension, having turned out films like Stake Land and We Are What We Are. 

As much if not more so than those projects, Cold in July constitutes a must-watch for Dexter devotees, if only for Hall’s involvement. 

The film’s opening is outwardly straightforward: Richard Dane (played by Hall), a small-town frame shop owner, finds himself inexplicably and reluctantly forced into heroics. His act? Killing a burglar—in self-defense. However, as Cold in July is a dark thrill starring none other than Dexter, the serial-killer-killing-serial-killer, things can and must proceed grimly from there. 

Indeed, Dane’s accidental bout of violence propels him into a twisted, brutal labyrinth, a maze worsened by deceit, vengeance, and enigma.

Soon, Dane winds up partnered with two unlikely allies—the burglar’s vengeful father, portrayed by the brilliant Sam Shepard, and a flashy private investigator, played memorably by Don Johnson. The trio careens into a seedy world of corruption and ethical ambiguity as they unravel a draconian conspiracy, thread by thread. 

Perhaps most noticeably, Cold in July benefits from Hall’s stellar performance as Dane; outwardly a stark departure from Dexter Morgan, Hall nonetheless infuses the character with the captivating pathos of someone descending into a moral dilemma. The intensity Hall injects in the performance reminds us why he won such a loyal fanbase through his previous work. 

Like Dexter, the movie also throws unpredictable narrative twists at the audience—enjoyably subverting expectations and guiding viewers down a path intensified by tension and suspense. Also akin to Hall’s serial killer series, Cold in July revels in moral ambiguity, blurred lines, and the nagging sense that what’s right is wrong and wrong is right. 

Hall’s preceding endeavors, such as Six Feet Under, were at their best when they forced audiences to confront uncomfortable questions; Cold in July compellingly requires just as much of the streaming viewer. 

Upon its release, the movie won critical admiration; experts lauded the project’s atmospheric direction and arresting narrative, alongside the standout performances from Hall, Shepard, and Johnson. Mickle’s knack for engendering a tense, suspenseful story—a tale inviting comparisons to classic noir and thrillers—especially pleased experts. Currently, on Rotten Tomatoes, the films hold an impressive 85 percent. 

Critical acclaim aside, Cold in July ultimately performed modestly well at the box office, no doubt because the project was a limited release. Premiering and competing at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, the feature was soon scooped up by IFC Films, who purchased the rights for an estimated $2 million. IFC soon put the film out theatrically and on video on demand at the same time. 

While its budget remains under wraps, IFC went on to earn roughly a million and a half dollars from the film globally, which probably meant profit for the team behind the film, but loss for the studio that bought its rights. 

Regardless of monetary woes, for a winsome thriller starring Dexter himself, stream Cold in July today.