dogkat

After reading all the positive reviews - yes, I am a gore-hound - I managed to find a theater playing this film. Went into this film hoping for a wild ride - instead got pure boredom. Haven't we moved beyond this kind of bloody, obnoxious nonsense? Enough with the SAW'S and HOSTEL'S! Tony Marsiglia did a much better job with the same premise (copy?) and got a more understated, haunting film in his SINFUL. It also contains Misty Mundae's finest performance. She manages to create a full blown character - not a set-up for a series of predictable plot contrivances. It is far too easy to just present a woman who is pregnant to gain audience sympathy. I highly recommend any fan of subtle horror to watch SINFUL instead of this unpleasant ride.

Do not miss Tony Marsiglia's stunning remake which features an utterly superb central performance from Misty Mundae as the innocent, wide-eyed titular character who dreams of becoming a movie star. However, she soon finds that far from being laced with tinsel, Hollywood is loaded with manipulative predators all too eager to lend a helping hand.

In some ways, this is Marsiglia's most straightforward film in terms of storytelling. There's none of the confusing narrative that characterized his previous release, Sinful, or the more dreamlike sequences in the excellent Lust for Dracula (Director's Cut). However, there are one or two moments of weirdness. For example, having been turned away from her first port of call, Chantal decides to lower her sights and enters the bowels of a decrepit hotel presided over by the creepy Pablo (Tony Marsiglia). On finding that she doesn't have enough money for a room even in this hell-hole, Pablo offers her a deal: he'll keep her suitcase and belongings with him, but he'll allow her to take two items with her. "Not the pink ones," he rasps excitedly like an obscene phone caller in imminent danger of a heart attack.

There are fine performances from the supporting cast. Darian Caine as an aggressive lesbian photographer gives perhaps her best performance to date with Marsiglia favorite, Andrea Davis, as her co-defiler. They subject the witless Chantal to their forceful attentions in a powerful scene that is harrowing to watch. Julian Wells also turns in a fine performance. Here, she plays an actress wannabe who's already been put through the wringer and is now reduced to turning tricks on the street.

Also present on the DVD are a behind the scenes featurette and an interesting audio commentary from Marsiglia and producer, Michael Raso. However, the icing on the cake is a fascinating, separate audio commentary from Tony Marsiglia and Misty Mundae. Aside from the business of 'Chantal', Misty speaks about her decision to stop making softcore films. She admits with refreshing honesty that since making Masters of Horror: Lucky McKee - Sick Girl, offers of acting work that she's been willing to undertake have not been numerous.

'Chantal', for me is a ten star film, but the extra features give this package a twenty star rating. Misty Mundae fans should consider it a must-have.

Who would believe a 37 year old blonde would fall for a giant old ape? Are we to believe she is mentally handicapped? This kind of sentimental script writing worked for 'Lassie' and 'Old Yeller' - sadly the love of a 'child and her dog' is strained beyond comprehension in this overblown rewrite. Jackson cribs all the best moments from the original - and steals from 'J Park' along the way - while adding a ridiculous amount of exposition on characters that barely make it beyond the first half - not that we care! But when we finally do focus on the two human leads we are supposed to root for - the weepy Watts and the useless 'hero' Brody (what was he trying to accomplish with the borrowed cab?)exhibit a new low in screen chemistry. Still - some of the effects - (save for the dreadful cgi Naomi Watts in the hand of the moving Kong - even the Fay Wray moving 'doll' looked better) amaze.