Pulp Free Rating: Story: B
Execution: A
Soundtrack: C
Special Effects: C
Overall Impact: B-
To fill in those that don't know, this film is an American remake of Michael Haneke's 1997 German film by the same name. I haven't seen the original, but everything I have read lead me to believe that the film is a rigid shot for shot remake. This one will certainly go down in the 'Torture Porn' genre, but the film was made with a little more in mind.
The film is in the classic vein of 'Last House on the Left' and, more recently, Rob Zombie's 'Devils Rejects'. Haneke's goal with this effort, as with the original film,was to make a statement about the impact of glorified violence on our society. The whole point for the killing in the film is that, frankly, there is no point. How much of an impact the message makes is debatable.
I watch films like these for the technical aspects. Just how a film full of laughs is an accomplishment, so is executing a film that brings miserable torture home for 112 min. 'Devils Rejects' is a great example of that. It takes a lot of skill to make horror truly chilling for such a long period of time. I think that most horror fans are watching this film for this same reason. I don't think Haneke is going to get too many horror fans to feel embarrassed for loving the genre.
As for the story, absolute terror and misery quickly unfold as a family looking to enjoy a nice weekend of sailing and golfing are visited by a couple of squeaky clean young men, Paul (Brady Corbet) and Peter (Micheal Pitt). The boys first encounter Ann (Naomi Watts) and ask to borrow some eggs. Eventually, things get out of hand as the polite boys begin to use physical violence against the family. It's only a matter of time before they are fighting for their lives.
Overall, the story is well written. Scenes unfold slowly and with realistically increasing horror. Much like the film that started the genre, Wes Craven's 'Last House on the Left', you are left wondering exactly how bad things are going to get before something happens to give the home team an upper hand. If you are the kind of film fan that can't stand the thought of the good guys going down, you probably shouldn't watch this film.
Acting-wise the film is impeccable. Besides being executive producer on the film, Naomi Watts portrays the perfect victim. She really does a great job of keeping in character and it seems that she is truly dedicated to the impact such a horror-fest should have. Tim Roth as the father was another great choice, as he plays a rather diminutive male figure. And don't even get me started on Micheal Pitt. Whether it's 'Murder By Numbers' or 'Bully', he manages to play the perfect restrained psychopath.
The direction is spot on, but one has to wonder how much that means when the film was already made once before. Part of the skill of making a film is helping it come together well despite unforeseen problems. While that still may have been a logistical factor, the film must have been much easier to complete having made the blueprint over 10 years ago.
As for special effects and soundtrack, they basically share the same grading. Not too many practical effects were needed for the film besides make-up and some fake blood. The soundtrack consists of exactly two pieces, classical opera and grind-core metal respectively. They do the job...
Conclusion
So, reeling it all in, the film sits squarely on the C - B line. A lot of the actual violence happens off screen, which I am a fan of, considering in requires great sound design to convey the happenings that we don't see. The film itself was well made, containing marathon scenes with no cuts. What prevents the film from being a solid B is the whole "If you're watching this film, you have problems" feeling implied throughout. Micheal Pitt addresses the viewer twice in the film, at one point mocking the viewers need for "reasonable plot development". Someone send Haneke a copy of 'Natural Born Killers' so he can know that someone already made his statement for him... with a way better soundtrack. We don't need to be lectured further by someone who created a 112 minute torture fest for humanities sake.
I think my next film will be a disgusting child porn speaking out about the horrors of child porn. What do you guys think? Sound plausible?
2 comments:
Ha! I loved your last line.
Your review almost made me think the film had some merit, and think I liked it.
Then I remembered the 112 minutes of pure desolation. Oh yeah. I kind of hated this movie. Although I agree that it was very well-done.
See: AN AMERICAN CRIME with Ellen Page and Catherine Keener for a similar effect.
springsteen is the working man's hero. no doubt.
Post a Comment