It’s hard to believe the war in Syria started over seven years ago. It seems like the conflict is often written about but rarely talked about other than by journalists and people who have family in the area. Once Helen’s (Susan Sarandon) son Andy (Julian Morris) gets kidnapped while writing a story about the war, Helen has to figure out how to raise enough money to pay the ransom.
Her own government tells her she is not allowed to pay ransom while also telling her they won’t send American troops into Syria to rescue her son. After her initial disappointment, Helen reaches out to an underground community of rich people to raise the money required to pay the ransom. Viper Club looks like an interesting, alternative look at the idea of a family having to pay ransom, just like the ’90s film Ransom.
Viper Club holds the distinction of being one of the first original films to be produced by YouTube Premium. YouTube is looking to get involved in the movie industry in a way similar to Netflix and Amazon. Considering Netflix film Roma recently won the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival while Amazon is producing projects by acclaimed artists such as Spike Lee, Jim Jarmusch and Richard Linklater, YouTube will have their work cut out for them. Considering the talent involved with Viper Club we may have a new powerhouse on our hands before too long.
Viper Club is directed by Maryam Keshavarz and stars Susan Sarandon, Matt Bomer, Edie Falco and Adepero Oduye. It will be released in the U.S. on October 26th, 2018 with an as of yet unknown U.K. release date. For international release dates click here.
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