Strange Deal (2021)

"Strange Deal" is a fast-paced and gritty crime/ thriller/comedy built around the dual themes of friendship and civility versus savagery. Zack and Cam -- both 24 and life long buddies -- pack for a weekend hunting trip. Zack has a next door neighbor, Milt, who is a police detective but also more than a little strange. Milt invites them over for a poker party. Cam wants to go because he's constantly short on cash and thinks poker will be an easy way to make some fast money. Zack would prefer to hangout with his new girlfriend, Amber. Cam prevails and the two buddies head next door for the game, not realizing they are about to be "hunted" in a way they never imagined. At Milt's house only two other players show up, a pair of sketchy characters named Helmet (45) and Zippy (25). Helmet is polished and diplomatic and clearly a gangster with business to conduct with Milt, while Helmet's "associate," Zippy, is a runtish and repugnant tweaker. While Milt and Helmet discuss business in a back bedroom Zippy regales Zack and Cam with a crude story about Milt's "Mommy." Milt appears, without Helmet, and as Milt and Zippy banter aggressively Milt produces a lead pipe and knocks Zippy out cold. Zack and Cam watch in horror as Milt takes a hunting knife and drives the blade up through the base of Zippy's skull and into his brain. Milt is quite pleased with himself because the killing resulted in no blood being spilled. Zack, however, is less than thrilled to learn that Milt used Zack's knife to kill Zippy and Zack's pistol to kill Helmet. It's up to Zack, Cam, and Amber to turn things around and get the upper hand.