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Coney Island Cousins is interesting from beginning to end. The international flavor is so genuine, particularly portraying the Russian community living around Coney Island. I love the suspense, dry humor and comedy effects. It also emphasizes how strong family bonds can overcome negative family issues. The method used to obtain the signature from Max, the dead man by the cousins Yulia and Val was hysterical. I loved the scene where Luscious did a stand up comedy in the middle of the chaos. The cast was very focused and the Director Al Padilla did a wonderful job writing and directing the film. I am looking forward to his next project.

During a time in film when studios and producers either make a film that insults our senses with stupidity, or is so complicated you can't follow it, Coney Island Cousins is a real story that unfolds in front of you. Along with some great shots of Coney Island at night, the two main characters move through complex memories and emotions in an easy to understand fashion. The two cousins share some difficult past memories along with some difficult choices that have to be made surrounding the discovery of a dead man during a cold Coney Island night. We see in the film that it is impossible to run from everything. That isn't the answer. Bravo.

If anyone has been to NYC they know this grasps the essence of it all. Its raw, gritty, and real. You never have any idea how your night will turn out and what adventures or misadventures will ensue. Among the chaos that endures the entire evening there is a soft side to the madness and a comedy about it all, which is displayed greatly with the comedy stand up. The constant bombardment that is NYC never stops and neither does the duo on their night out. Embracing the idea that we all want to run away from it all but with nowhere to go, all you can do is hold tight and go with it. Job well done! Looking forward to Mr. Padilla's next film; I really hope there is another!

What a pleasant surprise from an unknown indie director! This scrappy production makes the most of its (presumably) small budget and cast of lesser-known actors, delivering an authentic New York vibe and a compelling, often hilarious story. The tale of two estranged cousins reconnecting for one night in a certain Brooklyn neighborhood, Coney Island Cousins packs a lot of laughs plus some real pathos into its running time. The story stretches (but doesn't break) belief, and the pacing is fast and consistent. Loved the performances of a disparate group of actors all bringing their "A" game and seeming to have a lot of fun. Definitely a fun watch, and I'll be on the lookout for more from director Al Padilla.

Coney Island Cousins is a tender, quirky, and compelling portrait of two Russian cousins-both women approaching middle age-as they navigate a tumultuous night in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood. Our main character is Val, a registered nurse who moved to the suburbs in search of a new life... only to find herself in a failing marriage. We meet her as she returns home to Coney Island to reconnect with her cousin Yulia, a comedian and actor still waiting for the big break that should have come a decade ago.

Their lives are marked by uncertainty, emotional restlessness, and the creeping suspicion that time-and their ambitions-are slipping away. Whether it's dissatisfaction with work, tension in relationships, or a hidden sense of displacement, both women seem to teeter on the edge of a midlife crisis, steeped in the stagnant truths of lower middle-class life.

Director Alfred Padilla excels at portraying the layered realities of immigrant experience. His vision of Brooklyn, and of Coney Island in particular, captures a place that feels familiar yet never quite like home-even when it is home.

There's a subtle, ever-present tension in the story-not just from the pressures of modern life in a brutally expensive city, but from the quiet ache of being a migrant: never fully rooted, never entirely secure.

Low-budget films are often the hardest to make. Locations can be underwhelming, and capturing quality sound depends heavily on finding the right setting. Equipment is limited, and securing permits in major cities can be nearly impossible. Despite these challenges, this film draws powerful emotion from its outdoor locations. Director of Photography Noah Chamis captures the streets of Coney Island with such depth and texture that the setting feels less like a backdrop and more like a supporting actor.

This dark comedy keeps its message intact, but what truly stands out is its empathy. Drama and jokes aside, it explores how national identity, age, and culture collide in everyday moments-on subways, in clubs, and along the windblown boardwalk. Coney Island Cousins pays attention to the rules of storytelling. It's intimate, smart, and resonant-offering a glimpse into life that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Coney Island Cousins is a raw comedic film which packs memorable hilarious moments exemplifying life in South Brooklyn, NY. Even though the budget seemed low it is a must see as far as I'm concerned. Reminiscent of movies such as, "After Hours" and "Go" this movie's storyline takes place in one relentless night, with a frenetic pace that doesn't let go. The story is creative, fun, and well balanced. And while it is classified as a comedy there are strong elements of Mystery and Drama mixed in. Although most of the actors are not necessarily well known, they all brought their A game - delivering memorable performances throughout the movie. But don't take my word for it - go watch the movie and find out for yourselves.

What draws viewers to the "Coney Island Cousins" indie film is the expectation that it's about life in a working class Brooklyn neighborhood -- a district best known for its historic amusement park. However, the first thing this film's viewers notice is the change in demographics. Coney Island and other parts of Brooklyn have been well-known for their diversity for decades. Nowadays, a recent wave of Russians have been added to that mix.

The two main characters of "Coney Islands Cousins" -- Val (Diana Sillaots) and Yulia (Upa InSpace/I. Ginzburg) -- are among the Russian émigrés dealing with the daily grind of working class New York life.

These two characters, approaching middle age and working for the weekend like most folks, get together for a night of drinking and hanging out with a older male friend from the old country. However, when that friend accidently dies from a drug overdose in his apartment, the potential of these ladies' lives turning upside down (from deportation to being charged with a capital crime) become too real. This is where the film starts to take off.

The filmmaker, Al Padilla, uses such tension to reveal the unique character of modern-day Coney Island (similar to the famed TV series "Mr. Robot" -- which also took place there). That storytelling technique was also present in the 1991 sleeper hit film "Hangin' with the Homeboys". That movie, where veteran Hispanic character actor John Leguizamo appeared in his first art film, tells the story of four young African-American & Hispanic men from the Bronx who, bored with spending their free time in the outer boroughs, decide to venture into Manhattan on a night of bar hopping.

That fateful night caused those four characters to grapple with their own personal issues. One of the Puerto Rican "Homeboys" gets criticized for constantly selling out his racial identity in order to court women and dodge out of trouble with the police (at one point pretending to be Italian), while another (Leguizamo's character) confronts his painful inexperience with women. Meanwhile, one of the Black "Homeboys" pathologically blames racism for everything that goes wrong with his life.

What made "Hanging with the Homeboys" a sleeper hit was the fact that the audience was able to identify with that film's characters -- because these were folks that they likely grew up with.

It was such universal appeal that "Coney Islands Cousins" filmmaker Al Padilla tapped into when his movie's main characters were confronted with a life-threatening dilemma, and how they used their New York-bred street smarts to get out of it -- all while the audience is introduced to a side of Coney Island that only its locals were familiar with.

Al Padilla does a good job in using the tensions inherent in his film's plot to keep the audience engaged until the very end.

Padilla, a lifelong New York resident, has the potential to use other ethnic districts to tell compelling stories about the changes that its locals are facing, such as the gentrification of Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and the growth of the Dominican community in Washington Heights (upper Manhattan) (captured in the 2021 Lin Manuel Miranda hit movie "In the Heights").

That, along with the 80s New York (and Miami-bred) genre of Freestyle music, and how it preservers 40 years later (especially on YouTube and TikTok). That genre and its music makers have a story that's still begging to be told on the big screen.

A real surprise from some unknown talents. Very much in the John Cassavetes vain of a flowing, crazy, night out, the movie works on many different levels from comedy to drama. Great character actors kept it amusing and dramatic scenes from the lead actors kept me engaged. For an art house independent film I found it to be surprisingly accessible to the diverse members of my family who unexpectedly stopped what they were doing and got caught up in the film. Cinematography was good but at times the minimal budget was evident. Even so it worked seamlessly into the narrative to build an engrossing film that leaves me looking forward to seeing what Mr. Padilla will come up with next.

Coney Island Cousins is a very funny and heart felt film- just what we need in these times! It's main character, Val, is going through tumult. Instead of feeling hopeless, she and her cousin, Yulia, go on a wild adventure in hopes of starting anew.

If you know Coney, you know it is filled with characters- and these characters do not disappoint. Hats off to it's stars, Diana Sillaots and Upa InSpace, and the many hilarious performances- particularly Gregory Korostishevsky, Rashad Bashir, and John Backstrom.

I heard this film was shot in a matter of weeks with a micro budget. Kudos to it's writer and director, Alfred Padilla, for pulling it off! I look forward to seeing what is next to come from Alfred and this creative team!

This movie was a pleasure to watch, it's a modern classic new york indie film that actually portrays accurate cultural representation!

This film follows two cousins who had a somewhat perverse raunchy past and one has left the city to flee the scene as well as family drama/trauma and the other seems to miss her sidekick, but lives on ferociously in their old "hood" in Coney Island. I can tell by the few shoot locations that the movie was actually filmed in New York which was so relieving.

It was also nice to hear actual Russian accents and see authentic New York characters, not people playing their idea of New Yorkers(I hope the actors are all from here, otherwise, strike that comment)!

Anyway the film starts with the two cousins meeting up in the city, the one who moved upstate decided to come visit her cousin for a night of fun, JUST between them, but New York cousin Yulia has other things in mind. They get picked uo by a friend who takes them to another friends house, and then chaos ensues.

You could not have prepared me for the twisty turn this movie took. I started out thinking it was going to be a thriller/psychological horror type of thing where someone was about to be traficked, and then it became an unexpected cunty dramedy. Watch it, you will be thoroughly entertained. I hate moves, and I was actually looking at the screen the whole time.

I will also say there was one black character in this movie, his name was Lucious and he sounds exactly like this one regular at a bar here in Brooklyn and I had to do a double take everytime he came into frame because I was so sure it was him, from the tone of voice, down to the literal dialogue, it was things Brandon would actually say! I can't help but wonder if that's who Lucious was based of off.

I will also say it was very relieving to not see a black man suffer at the hands of white peoples mistakes for the first time in film.

This movie was lighthearted and fun, it was well fleshed out, and left me wanting exactly what it should have, more of Val's story, wanting to slap Yulia and Val, and thinking only white women would get away with some ish like this.

All I can say is, these cousins may be chaotic, but by the time the film is over I was thinking, "I'd DEFINITELY hang out with these two!" The production values are a bit rough around the edges, but it does give a very home-movie, gritty feel to this edgy, dark comedy. Great ensemble, highlighted by the performances of the gifted and dynamic Diana Sillaots, the hilarious Upa Inspace, the authenticity of Rashad Bashir, and of course, the scene-stealing Gregory Korostishevsky. Add that group to the off-the-rails story set against the bright lights and broken promises of Coney Island, and you have a very watchable film. I could even see a possible sequel...maybe?