I've been thinking about this film a lot since I've seen it for the first time. For a film with a really short runtime, I feel as if i got so much out of the film. Right from the beginning I felt this unease like I was terrible anxious of where this film was going to go. A couple friends recommended I watch this film, only telling me that it's extreme and doesn't hold back. And it really doesn't hold back at all. I felt as if I couldn't take anymore of it by the end of the film. This might seem like an over exaggeration to read this but, trust me, watch this movie! You'll understand. I felt shaky and weak by the time the credits started. There's a warning in the beginning that recommends you discontinue your viewing if you feel overly disturbed or triggered. I wish I took that into more consideration. The cruelty of the "torturer" is wicked and feels almost real. The performance of the lead actor is so bizarre and scary. It terrified me that someone like this character could very well be out there. This character, The Wolf, reminds me sort of like a creature swimming below you in murky water. You don't know what he'll do or when he'll strike. If you can visualize and understand my metaphor, then you can understand the type of scary I'm talking about. Aside from all that Loving Polly has technical flaws such as, choppy editing at times and camera focusing issues. Both of those flaws can be argued that it was done on purpose to create the unease, in which it is effective at times but, it can be a bit annoying more often than not. Also there are moments of poor audio and lighting, especially during the scene with Polly and her friend after the concert. The story, direction, and acting definitely outweigh its technical flaws. Loving Polly is a film about the destruction of the human spirit. There isn't a happy ending or a true resolution. This film is a real horror story told with a real life monster. John Theissen Jr.'s flawed masterpiece displays how brutal, grisly, and unforgiving humanity can truly be.
