By Eden Binder

Ever since its release, “Cocaine Bear” has generated internet buzz. The movie, loosely based on the true story of a bear overdosing on the stash of drug smuggler Andrew Thornton, took plenty of artistic liberties.

Both in real life and in the movie, Thronton jumped to his death after dropping the cocaine from his plane. The movie detours from reality, though, when the bear goes on a cocaine-induced rampage — killing several movie characters in gory, action-packed fashion. 

Freshman journalism major Maithili Sule said her favorite scene was when the bear jumps into a moving ambulance, killing an already-injured victim and two EMTs.

“The EMT scene was just crazy because they go in expecting a lady who’s had a concussion, and they enter and see she’s mutilated and they’re terrified because it’s ‘I thought I was here for something small and suddenly now I am traumatized for life.’” Sule said.

Sule remains heavily fascinated by the movie. 

“I kind of want to do a second watch just to analyze it even further because now we know what happened. I’ll bring a flashlight and my notebook and just scribble during the credits.”

While Sule enjoyed the movie, critics disagree, stating the movie is all action with no plot. Associated Press entertainment critic Mark Kennedy is one of them, calling the movie “100% pure uncut junk with no high” in his personal review.

Freshman journalism major Sofia Appolonio disagrees as she defends the movie’s premise.

“There is a plot. [And] what’s so bad if there’s actually no plot? It’s called ‘Cocaine Bear.’ It’s not, ‘let’s go into the psyche of the cocaine bear,’” Appolonio said.

Appolonio also liked how the movie shifted her feelings regarding its titular character.

“Midway through the end of the movie there’s a shift [where] I want the Cocaine Bear to have as much cocaine as possible. I want the cocaine bear to reign supreme. I want the Cocaine Bear to win,” Appolonio said.

Despite the movie’s current trendiness, freshman chemistry major Jackie Sin saw the movie with Sule and Appolonio knowing only the title.

“I frankly didn’t know it was being released until Sofia said the words cocaine bear to me. I was [then] like I gotta go see it.” Sin said. “My friends were all really hyped to see it but not because of trendiness, just because the concept of a bear high on crack is pretty funny.”

Regal Hyattsville Royale worker Jean Michel said that while his boss has observed mixed reactions to the film, he feels the movie was well done.

“From what I’ve seen they did a pretty good job, even though it was not what a real life bear would do, there is nothing I would change,” Michel said.

Michel also said that he believed the movie has been a success in Hyattsville and beyond. At the time of this writing, “Cocaine Bear” has made nearly 70 million dollars worldwide, which is about 35 million dollars more than its budget.

“It’s actually been pretty popular here. I heard they’re planning on making a sequel [called] Cocaine Shark, so it’s been pretty successful overall,” Michel said.

Although critics remain split about “Cocaine Bear,” the movie has established a passionate fan base among college students — including Appolonio, who says she wouldn’t change a thing about the film.

“I laughed. I cried. I had many revelations. I think it was a perfect movie.”

Featured Image: The sign outside of the Regal Hyattsville Royale theater, which is currently showing “Cocaine Bear.” Photo by Eden Binder.