Seems like ever since torture scenes were made fashionable in “Reservoir Dogs,” filmmakers have been trying to outdo each other in making their audiences uncomfortable…to say the least. One of the latest of these efforts that I can think of is the much spit upon rape scene from “Irreversible.” With that cinematic stick in the eye, I think filmmaker Gaspar Noe achieved what he was going for and he should be saluted. Now, we have before us a littler known entry, a film that is building steam as it makes the festival rounds, a film that, in its entirety, is just about as despicable as the aforementioned attrocity. And I love it.
A nice, quiet evening of murder is interrupted when a nosy and rather creepy man barges into his female neighbor’s home, insistent on some dirty sex. Finding her dead on the floor with her male attacker still in the room, this creepy man still insists on sex and he’s not really into necrophilia if you know what I mean. So what follows is a near twenty minute rape and torture scene that makes any sort of stories you’ve heard about hardcore prison love sound like whale songs. It’s a film made for some good snugglin’ with the one you love.
Yes, it’s highly disturbing and nerve racking and that’s definitely my cup of shattered glass. Some may feel that it wears out its welcome after a short while, but this film just isn’t for them. This film isn’t made to be welcomed. Just like the perverted nosy neighbor, it knocks down your door and holds you captive. This film is more of a challenge than entertainment. And personally, I love the idea of an audience squirming their way through this one, just as they did at the New York City Horror Film Festival where “Scream For Me” went on to win the Best Short Film Award. There’s apparently a lot of sick puppies in New York. God bless ’em.
