Hazard
Written and directed by Eddie Mensore
Starring Sosie Bacon, Alex Roe, and Steven Ogg
Rated R
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Premieres in Kentucky January 10

by Kate Beach, Staff Writer

Eddie Mensore’s Hazard opens with a statistic. A black screen and white text informs us that in 2001, opioid deaths occurred in Appalachia at similar levels as the rest of the United States. By 2021, it states that the death rate was 72% higher. Hazard doesn’t do much to suggest why that tragic jump has occurred. Instead, it’s interested in the individuals affected by it, and the communities that are left reeling in the wake of addiction.

Hazard follows Will and Sara, an on again-off again couple played by Alex Roe and Sosie Bacon, respectively. They have a young son, Morgan (Emmett Moss), and have been living separately in the mining town of Hazard, Kentucky. Sara has been in recovery for almost a year, though her grip on sobriety is tenuous at best. Will is decidedly not sober, and hating himself for it. Shame and regret wash over his face every time he uses, until the effects hit and he’s left nodding out in his truck or on his mother’s porch. They both dream of recovery, stability, and better days ahead, but it becomes increasingly difficult to pull themselves out of the cycle they are stuck repeating.

The people and places around Will and Sara play a large role in keeping them stuck in the cycle of addiction. Their town is small and isolated, and the opportunity to score lies around every corner. Will’s father, played by Steven Ogg, is addicted too, and increasingly despondent. When Will shoots him up because he’s too far gone to do it himself, it’s one of the most tragic and affecting moments in the film. Hazard is a striking depiction of the trauma that bounces back and forth in families dealing with addiction.

Hazard never treats any of its subjects with anything less than care and dignity. It’s thoughtful in its exploration of not just addiction itself, but the way the damage ricochets and harms families and communities. Mensore also treats his location with a beautiful sense of affection and compassion. A native of West Virginia, his love of Appalachia is made clear in beautiful shots of lush forests, sharp cliffs, and sweeping valleys. His previous film, 2019’s Mine 9, told the story of nine miners trapped underground after a collapse (one was portrayed by Drew Starkey, currently starring in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer.) Mensore’s close connection to the region and the subject matter is obvious and admirable. He’s premiering the film in Louisville, Kentucky, and taking it on a tour around several other theaters in Appalachia.

The cast also treats their roles with sensitivity and care. Bacon’s Sara is determined but fragile, exhausted by trying to parent while maintaining sobriety. Roe imbues Will with vulnerability and pain, as he stumbles and struggles. There are moments when the Hazard falters. A generally lovely score feels out of place when it heightens dramatically, giving certain scenes a more action-thriller vibe that doesn’t match the sensitive, humanistic tone. Similarly working against that tone are moments in the screenplay that slide into the stereotypes that Mensore is clearly trying to avoid.

It doesn’t have the answers, but Hazard wants to help. By engaging with people affected by addiction and by premiering in Appalachia and holding Q&As with counselors and recovery groups, it’s clear that Mensore wants his film to make a difference. While Hazard itself is serviceable, the efforts he’s undertaken to represent this community and this crisis responsibly are impressive. “I want my fellow Appalachians to see themselves portrayed with love and dignity,” Mensore said in an interview. Despite the pain and desperation at the heart of Hazard, he’s succeeded in crafting a deeply compassionate story.

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