This genre of film is one of the hardest for me to watch, even with being a very avid horror movie fan. Mostly, because this type of horror is mostly torture, brutality and sadistic violence.
If you are someone that cannot handle the effects of being exposed to: Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse, Torture, Animal Abuse, and rape, I highly recommend skipping this film, because it will stay with you for a while and these images cannot be unseen.
Spoilers:
I did prepare myself for what I was in for, as my fellow movie buffs did highly recommend this film, as it was said to be extremely well done and with fantastic acting, regardless of the brutal subject matter.
The movie was eerie from the start and had my heart pumping hard, mostly because of the anticipation. The music, the slow movement, and the opening will have you locked in as you see the predators hunt their prey right out of the gates.
The film "monsters" are no more than what looks like a normal couple, and yet you can tell the macabre power that lies behind them. We witness only small aftermath of images and distant sounds of what they have already done with one of their victims, and this will already make your face go pale. The dynamic between the two is extremely tense and you can already see the mental decay in what would be the most horrific co-dependent relationship, (But sadly realistic) I have ever seen.
We then are introduced to the main victim who is a young teen girl struggling with new life changes with her parents divorce. She sneaks out late one night, is spotted by the sadistic couple, and just as easy as spreading butter on bread, they convince her to come back to their house to purchase weed. (It made an impact to me, because it shows how fricken easy it could be to let your guard down and find yourself, your daughter, or anyone in a similar situation.)
Is only a matter of moments that you see she is done for. They spike her drink and those last moments of physical ability, she slowly sees all the danger around her. This once presumably innocent couple turn into terror and you spiral down with her.( I will never feel the same about "Nights in white satin again"!) They overpower her, chain her to the bed, and the nightmare begins.
The primal screams that come from the victim Vicki send shivers down your spine and bring tears to your eyes as she tries to survive. The film focuses slightly more on the female part of the couple Evelyn and you almost start to feel desperately depressed for her, as she is extremely traumatized, a drunk, and has been being manipulated horrifically by her male counter part John since she was a teen herself. John is very two dimensional and that works pretty well for someone who is a sociopath.
The story continues with unnerving scenes of torture and rape, that luckily are not graphically shown, but still stop your heart with the small fragments of post scenes and wounds left on Vicki.
The film wraps up almost quickly it felt, as each scene is pure misery and desperation with no uplifting scenes what so ever. Finally the couple comes to a breaking point after John brutally kills Evelyn's dog(This was a rough one) and Evelyn finally is able to see Vicki as a human being when they hear Vicki's mother hysterically calling for Vicki outside, as her parents have been looking for her around the generally area. Evelyn finally snaps by murdering John, only moments before he strangles Vicki. Vicki escapes to her parents that have been so desperately looking for her, and the movie ends in a heart wrenching embrace between Vicki and her mother.
Excellent acting, a heart aching story, but well done.
If you are someone that cannot handle the effects of being exposed to: Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse, Torture, Animal Abuse, and rape, I highly recommend skipping this film, because it will stay with you for a while and these images cannot be unseen.
Spoilers:
I did prepare myself for what I was in for, as my fellow movie buffs did highly recommend this film, as it was said to be extremely well done and with fantastic acting, regardless of the brutal subject matter.
The movie was eerie from the start and had my heart pumping hard, mostly because of the anticipation. The music, the slow movement, and the opening will have you locked in as you see the predators hunt their prey right out of the gates.
The film "monsters" are no more than what looks like a normal couple, and yet you can tell the macabre power that lies behind them. We witness only small aftermath of images and distant sounds of what they have already done with one of their victims, and this will already make your face go pale. The dynamic between the two is extremely tense and you can already see the mental decay in what would be the most horrific co-dependent relationship, (But sadly realistic) I have ever seen.
We then are introduced to the main victim who is a young teen girl struggling with new life changes with her parents divorce. She sneaks out late one night, is spotted by the sadistic couple, and just as easy as spreading butter on bread, they convince her to come back to their house to purchase weed. (It made an impact to me, because it shows how fricken easy it could be to let your guard down and find yourself, your daughter, or anyone in a similar situation.)
Is only a matter of moments that you see she is done for. They spike her drink and those last moments of physical ability, she slowly sees all the danger around her. This once presumably innocent couple turn into terror and you spiral down with her.( I will never feel the same about "Nights in white satin again"!) They overpower her, chain her to the bed, and the nightmare begins.
The primal screams that come from the victim Vicki send shivers down your spine and bring tears to your eyes as she tries to survive. The film focuses slightly more on the female part of the couple Evelyn and you almost start to feel desperately depressed for her, as she is extremely traumatized, a drunk, and has been being manipulated horrifically by her male counter part John since she was a teen herself. John is very two dimensional and that works pretty well for someone who is a sociopath.
The story continues with unnerving scenes of torture and rape, that luckily are not graphically shown, but still stop your heart with the small fragments of post scenes and wounds left on Vicki.
The film wraps up almost quickly it felt, as each scene is pure misery and desperation with no uplifting scenes what so ever. Finally the couple comes to a breaking point after John brutally kills Evelyn's dog(This was a rough one) and Evelyn finally is able to see Vicki as a human being when they hear Vicki's mother hysterically calling for Vicki outside, as her parents have been looking for her around the generally area. Evelyn finally snaps by murdering John, only moments before he strangles Vicki. Vicki escapes to her parents that have been so desperately looking for her, and the movie ends in a heart wrenching embrace between Vicki and her mother.
Excellent acting, a heart aching story, but well done.