1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Cheap Thrills
"What doesn't kill you makes you richer."
2013 1h 28m EN
😐
6.4
MID
🍅
87%
FRESH
👌
63
METACRITIC
⭐
6.7
IMDB
★6.4TMDB · 468🍅87%Rotten Tomatoes●63Metacritic★6.7IMDB · 21,236
ComedyCrimeThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Recently fired and facing eviction, a new dad has his life turned upside down when he meets a wealthy couple who offer a path to financial security... but at a price.
“What doesn't kill you makes you richer.”
Cast
Pat Healy
Craig
Ethan Embry
Vince
Sara Paxton
Violet
David Koechner
Colin
Amanda Fuller
Audrey
Laura Covelli
Caryn
Elissa Dowling
Tweaker
Todd Farmer
Security Guard
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- E.L. Katz
- Writers
- David Chirchirillo, Trent Haaga
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 13 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by E.L. Katz, shot by Sebastian Winterø. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Mads Heldtberg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Brody Gusar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Pat Healy and Ethan Embry and Sara Paxton carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "What doesn't kill you makes you richer.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
E.L. Katz directs. Sebastian Winterø behind the camera. Mads Heldtberg scores. Brody Gusar cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 3Released 13 years ago.
- 4Directed by E.L. Katz, shot by Sebastian Winterø. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Mads Heldtberg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Brody Gusar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Pat Healy and Ethan Embry and Sara Paxton carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "What doesn't kill you makes you richer.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt2389182 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 16 themes, including "cocaine", "dark comedy", "challenge", "vomit".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Sebastian Winterø
- Original score
- Mads Heldtberg
- Editing
- Brody Gusar
- Production design
- Melisa Jusufi
- Costume design
- Kelsey Stengle
- Makeup / hair
- Hugo Villasenor
- Sound
- Joe Barrucco
- Runtime
- 88 min · 1h 28m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $200,000
- Original language
- EN
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 87% 🍅 Fresh
- Metacritic
- 63/100
- IMDB rating
- 6.7/10 · 21,236 votes
- MPAA
- Not Rated
- US box office
- $59,424
Awards
9 wins & 8 nominations total
Also by
E.L. Katz
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Snowfort Pictures
US
- NE
New Artists Alliance
Key crew
- ProducerGabriel Cowan
- ProducerJohn Suits
- Makeup EffectsHugo Villasenor
- Executive ProducerJonathan Schurgin
- EditorBrody Gusar
- Executive ProducerCurtis Raines
- CastingDanielle Aufiero
- Executive ProducerGena Wilbur
- Production DesignMelisa Jusufi
- ProducerTravis Stevens
- Art DirectionJeremy Jonathan White
- Costume DesignKelsey Stengle
- Supervising Sound EditorAndy Hay
- Supervising Sound EditorGabriel Cowan
- Sound DesignerJoe Barrucco
- Makeup ArtistHugo Villasenor
- Sound EditorChance Pemberton
- Sound Re-Recording MixerMatt Vowles
- AuthorRoald Dahl
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- cocaine
- dark comedy
- challenge
- vomit
- birthday party
- strip club
- money
- murder
- mechanic
- extramarital affair
- dead dog
- money problems
- human excrement
- defecating
- eating one's finger
- bar
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2013-03-08
Also known as
International titles
- 絕命賭局TW
- Дешевый трепетRU
- Φτηνές συγκινήσειςGR
- Juegos suciosES
