Cocaine Bear (2023)

"Cocaine Bear (2023)" is a wild ride that, despite its fantastical premise, plunges headfirst into the chaotic aftermath of a drug empire's collapse. The film centers on the unintended consequences of a drug trafficker's disastrous attempt to dispose of a massive cocaine shipment, which is then consumed by an apex predator. This scenario ignites a series of increasingly violent encounters as various parties – including desperate criminals, injured law enforcement, and terrified tourists – find themselves caught in the drug-fueled rampage of a very angry bear. The core of the narrative revolves around these desperate attempts to control the situation and escape the carnage, mirroring the high-stakes desperation often found in classic crime thrillers, albeit with a decidedly more ursine twist. While "Cocaine Bear" leans heavily into horror and dark comedy, its underlying structure is undeniably rooted in crime. The initial act of smuggling and the subsequent panic and violence are all direct results of illegal drug activity and the desperation it breeds. The film explores themes of greed, the unpredictable nature of the underworld, and the brutal lengths people will go to for survival or to protect their illicit gains. The escalating conflict, the pursuit of a macguffin (albeit a bear high on cocaine), and the morally ambiguous characters all serve to place it within the broader spectrum of crime cinema, showcasing how even the most outlandish scenarios can be fueled by the grim realities of criminal enterprise.