The Casserole Club: Intense, Funny, Quirky & Raw
Directed by Steve Balderson and starring Susan Traylor and Kevin Scott Richardson, The Casserole Club offers an interesting look into the lives of several couples living in the 1960s. At times throughout the film, you feel like you’re watching an old sitcom as the characters put on a facade of the All-American household while calling everything “groovy.” Soon, the alcohol and sexual tension take over, and somehow the perfect mix of contrasting images welcomes you into the lives of these characters. You find yourself curious about their inner thoughts and what deeper issues may lie within these couples.
The film begins innocently enough, with a group of housewives deciding to organize a potluck dinner with their husbands. Each wife is expected to make a dish, and the husbands vote on whose casserole tasted the best. After dinner, the games begin! At first, they play ordinary party games, but things quickly become more provocative. Eventually, everyone’s inhibitions are lowered enough for them to lose all control. The Casserole Club turns into a full-blown swingers club!
The Casserole Club premiered at the 2011 VisionFest and won five awards, including Best Direction, Best Production, Male Lead Actor for Kevin Scott Richardson, and Best Female Lead Actress for Susan Traylor. The film’s comedic situations and conversations make you laugh out loud, while its darker undertones and confrontations create a level of discomfort that’s rare.
As someone who knew Richardson best as a Backstreet Boy, I found his portrayal of Conrad Bainbridge incredibly believable. At times, I was actually frightened of what he’d do in the film. Traylor is equally compelling as Sugar. You feel her desperation for intimacy and the effort she puts into pretending she’s a happily married woman.
While independent films don’t have the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, they have the ability to explore deeper emotions and brutal realities while splashing artistic color across the screen. Steve Balderson and his ensemble cast accomplished this effortlessly and effectively. At the time of its release, I hoped The Casserole Club would find a wider audience through IFC, Netflix, or another platform willing to spotlight bold independent films.
Learn more about The Casserole Club on the film’s official website.
