Amid the ongoing opioid crisis, the mining town of Hazard is heavily impacted by widespread drug usage, ranging from legitimate pain management to recreational highs. Will, a reluctant drug dealer, finds himself trapped in a difficult situation. He is determined to reunite his family, but in his efforts, he inadvertently contributes to their addiction, believing it will help alleviate their suffering. As tensions rise within the community, Will is confronted with a heart-wrenching dilemma: he must choose between succumbing to his own addiction or taking a stand to rescue his family before it is too late. The fate of his loved ones and the community hangs in the balance.
The opening moments of Hazard depict a story that’s become all too familiar in the United States today. Will (Alex Roe), a coal miner, gets into an accident, after which he is immediately prescribed OxyContin. What follows is an absolutely harrowing look at the opiate epidemic situated in the world of Appalachian coal country. As Will struggles to support his girlfriend who is also addicted to opiates (played by a scene stealing Sosie Bacon) and their son, the audience is forced to ask if it’s truly possible for an individual to break the cycle of generational poverty and addiction.
Hazard is equal parts family drama and social thriller, with director Eddie Mensore admirably refusing to give into the dichotomy of villain and victim. Instead, we get a deeply empathetic and nuanced portrayal of addiction that treats its characters as the fully formed human beings that they are. – Daniel Abelow
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Eddie Mensore, founder of Emphatic Films in Atlanta, GA, completed his second feature film, Mine 9, in September 2018. The film debuted on 25 screens, topping box office charts on many and later expanded to 72 locations in the United States and Canada. It peaked at #7 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases and #3 in Thrillers, with runs on Netflix and Showtime. Mensore’s script for Hazard received an 8 rating from The Black List, a rare honor for fewer than 5% of scripts. He holds an MFA in Film/Video Production from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
- DirectorEddie Mensore
- ScreenwriterEddie Mensore
- ProducerEddie Mensore, Alex Roe, Sosie Bacon
- Executive ProducerGill Holland, Matthew Shreder
- CastAlex Roe, Sosie Bacon, Dave Davis, Steven Ogg, Kevin Sizemore
- CinematographerMatthew Boyd
- EditorEddie Mensore, Steven Rickert Jr.
- Production DesignMichael McKowen
- ComposerMauricio Yazigi
- Sound DesignGreg Crawford
- MusicMauricio Yazigi
Amid the ongoing opioid crisis, the mining town of Hazard is heavily impacted by widespread drug usage, ranging from legitimate pain management to recreational highs. Will, a reluctant drug dealer, finds himself trapped in a difficult situation. He is determined to reunite his family, but in his efforts, he inadvertently contributes to their addiction, believing it will help alleviate their suffering. As tensions rise within the community, Will is confronted with a heart-wrenching dilemma: he must choose between succumbing to his own addiction or taking a stand to rescue his family before it is too late. The fate of his loved ones and the community hangs in the balance.
The opening moments of Hazard depict a story that’s become all too familiar in the United States today. Will (Alex Roe), a coal miner, gets into an accident, after which he is immediately prescribed OxyContin. What follows is an absolutely harrowing look at the opiate epidemic situated in the world of Appalachian coal country. As Will struggles to support his girlfriend who is also addicted to opiates (played by a scene stealing Sosie Bacon) and their son, the audience is forced to ask if it’s truly possible for an individual to break the cycle of generational poverty and addiction.
Hazard is equal parts family drama and social thriller, with director Eddie Mensore admirably refusing to give into the dichotomy of villain and victim. Instead, we get a deeply empathetic and nuanced portrayal of addiction that treats its characters as the fully formed human beings that they are. – Daniel Abelow
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Eddie Mensore, founder of Emphatic Films in Atlanta, GA, completed his second feature film, Mine 9, in September 2018. The film debuted on 25 screens, topping box office charts on many and later expanded to 72 locations in the United States and Canada. It peaked at #7 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases and #3 in Thrillers, with runs on Netflix and Showtime. Mensore’s script for Hazard received an 8 rating from The Black List, a rare honor for fewer than 5% of scripts. He holds an MFA in Film/Video Production from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
- DirectorEddie Mensore
- ScreenwriterEddie Mensore
- ProducerEddie Mensore, Alex Roe, Sosie Bacon
- Executive ProducerGill Holland, Matthew Shreder
- CastAlex Roe, Sosie Bacon, Dave Davis, Steven Ogg, Kevin Sizemore
- CinematographerMatthew Boyd
- EditorEddie Mensore, Steven Rickert Jr.
- Production DesignMichael McKowen
- ComposerMauricio Yazigi
- Sound DesignGreg Crawford
- MusicMauricio Yazigi