# Failure!
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Failure!
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Failure!.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure!
> Source revision: 1350736131
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|2023 film by Alex Kahuam}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Failure!
| image = Failure! Poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [Alex Kahuam](/source/Alex_Kahuam)
| writer = Alex Kahuam
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Marco De Molina
* Kayli Fortun
* Alex Kahuam
* [Ted Raimi](/source/Ted_Raimi)
* Jose D. Rodriguez
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* Ted Raimi
* [Merrick McCartha](/source/Merrick_McCartha)
* Noel Douglas Orput
* Melissa Diaz
* Christin Muuli
* Daniel Kuhlman
* LeVar Michael
* Spencer Langston
* John Paul Medrano
* Ernest Cavazos
* Joe Barra
* Chris Paul Morales
* Alex Sands
* Hyeong Choi
}}
| cinematography = Ernesto Lomeli
| editing = Alex Kahuam
| music = Vincent Gillioz
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* Promotora NAE
* Spacebrain Entertainment
}}
| distributor = Red Water Entertainment
| released = {{Film date|2023|08|28|[FrightFest](/source/FrightFest_(film_festival))|2025|01|28|[VOD](/source/VOD)}}
| runtime = 87 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
* Mexico
* United States
}}
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'''''Failure!''''' is a 2023 [crime](/source/Crime_film) [comedy film](/source/comedy_film) written and directed by [Alex Kahuam](/source/Alex_Kahuam). The film stars [Ted Raimi](/source/Ted_Raimi), [Merrick McCartha](/source/Merrick_McCartha), Noel Douglas Orput, Melissa Diaz and Christin Muuli.
== Plot ==
Within one hour, a businessman must choose between his finances or murder to keep his family safe.
== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [Ted Raimi](/source/Ted_Raimi) as James
* [Merrick McCartha](/source/Merrick_McCartha) as Mr. Serge
* Noel Douglas Orput as Unknown Man
* Melissa Diaz as Maria
* Christin Muuli as Jessica
* Daniel Kuhlman as Alvar
* LeVar Michael as Robert
* Spencer Langston as JP. Jr.
* John Paul Medrano as Michael
* Ernest Cavazos as Slavko
* Joe Barra as Nicolas
* Chris Paul Morales as Juan
* Alex Sands as Charles
* Hyeong Choi as Takuma
}}
== Production ==
The film was shot in a single 87-minute take.[{{Cite press release|last=Meza |first=Ed |date=2023-05-23 |title=Alex Kahuam's Ted Raimi Thriller 'Failure!' Goes With Alief (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/failure-ted-raimi-alief-fantastic-pavilion-1235622470/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine)) |language=en-US}}] Raimi said that [principal photography](/source/principal_photography) took three days from rehearsal to final take.[{{Cite interview|last=Navarro |first=Meagan |date=2023-05-19 |title=‘Failure!’ – Ted Raimi Previews Ambitious, Violent, Single-Take Thriller Ahead of Cannes Debut [Exclusive] |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3762967/failure-ted-raimi-previews-violent-single-take-thriller-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=[Bloody Disgusting](/source/Bloody_Disgusting) |language=en-US}}] The film makes Kahuam the first Mexican filmmaker to make a [one shot](/source/One-shot_film) feature film in the US.[{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Andrew |date=2022-06-28 |title=FAILURE! Alex Kahuam Directs Genre Icon Ted Raimi in Single Take Thriller |url=https://screenanarchy.com/2022/06/failure-alex-kahuam-ted-raimi.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=[Screen Anarchy](/source/Screen_Anarchy)}}][{{Cite web |last=DiVincenzo |first=Alex |date=2025-01-30 |title=Single-Take Thriller 'Failure!' Starring Ted Raimi Available Now |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3852772/single-take-thriller-failure-starring-ted-raimi-available-now/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=[Bloody Disgusting!](/source/Bloody_Disgusting!) |language=en-US}}]
== Release ==
The film was picked up for distribution by Alief[{{Cite press release |last=Hamman |first=Cody |date=2023-07-19 |title=Failure! teaser trailer: Ted Raimi thriller to premiere at FrightFest |url=https://www.joblo.com/failure-teaser-trailer/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=[JoBlo](/source/JoBlo) |language=en-US}}] at [Marché du Film](/source/March%C3%A9_du_Film)[{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=2023-07-18 |title=‘Failure!’ Trailer – Ted Raimi Stars in Single Take Thriller Headed to FrightFest 2023 |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3769654/failure-trailer-ted-raimi-stars-in-single-take-thriller-headed-to-frightfest-2023/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=[Bloody Disgusting](/source/Bloody_Disgusting) |language=en-US}}] In May 2024, Red Water Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights.[{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Ted Raimi Thriller 'Failure!' Snapped Up for North American Distribution at Cannes Market by Red Water Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/ted-raimi-failure-cannes-red-water-entertainment-1236006105/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine)) |language=en-US}}] It was released on [video on demand](/source/video_on_demand) on January 28, 2025.[{{Cite web |title=Failure! |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/failure |access-date={{RT data|access date}} |website=[Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) |publisher=[Fandango](/source/Fandango_Media)}}]
== Reception ==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|{{RT data|score}}|{{RT data|average}}|{{RT data|count}}|ref=yes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}
Martin Unsworth at [Starburst Magazine](/source/Starburst_(magazine)) scored the film 5 out of 5.[{{Cite web |last=Unsworth |first=Martin |date=2023-08-28 |title=FAILURE! [FrightFest 2023] |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/failure/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=[Starburst](/source/Starburst_(magazine)) |language=en-GB}}] Paul Chapinal at Film News gave it 4 out of 5 stars.[{{Cite web |last=Chapinal |first=Paul |date=2023-08-28 |title=Failure! |url=https://www.film-news.co.uk/review/UK/5424/Cinema/Failure |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Film News |language=en-US}}] Film critic [Kim Newman](/source/Kim_Newman) said the film is more satisfying than Kahuam's ''[Forgiveness](/source/Forgiveness_(2021_film))''.[{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Kim |author-link=Kim Newman |date=2023-08-28 |title=FrightFest review – Failure! |url=https://johnnyalucard.com/2023/08/28/frightfest-review-failure/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Kim Newman Web Site |language=en-GB}}] Anton Bitel at Projected Figures said it is "an understated, if unpredictable chamber drama" that "is concerned with broader themes of American capital and criminality."[{{Cite web |last=Bitel |first=Anton |date=2023-08-28 |title=Failure! (2023) |url=https://projectedfigures.com/2023/08/28/failure-2023/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Projected Figures |language=en-GB}}]
Horror icon and frequent Raimi collaborator [Bruce Campbell](/source/Bruce_Campbell) endorsed the film by saying "Ted Raimi is one of the few actors I would — or could — watch for 87 minutes without a break."