Broken Innocence

Chase Dudley continues to show time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Indie film world and "Broken Innocence" is no exception. Once again Dudley breaks away from being stuck to one genre with a surprisingly deep and emotional script.

From "killer" cinematography by Brandon Benz along with breakout performances from Arianna Harris and. Paul T. Taylor, your eyes will be glued to the screen the entire time. It's no wonder that Broken Innocence has been sweeping film festivals all across the country winning award after award. This is a dark subject matter that Harris handles surprisingly maturely with a presence on screen well above her years. A low-budget drama turned slasher that takes advantage of every penny. I'd highly recommend checking it out! There's a reason Chase has consistent backers when he launches campaigns for his new movies.

This was well directed and the cast is superb. The story is about a 15 year old girl going through years of abuse, rape and mentally traumatized. Personally I'm not a huge fan of thrillers but to me, this one stuck out. As a parent myself, some scenes are hard to stomach but definitely takes you through what she has experienced and watching her decipher what is right from wrong. It makes it hard for me to watch movies such as this one when we all know that this is the kind of stuff that is really going on today. But, if you're looking for a decent film to watch on abuse and murder, look no further.

I feel like the writing and the story could have been handled a little better and steered in a more realistic direction, but otherwise, I was surprisingly hooked to the movie! The acting does shine where it shines, and in some places, I feel like it could be better. I really liked the lead actress and how she plays her character!

Like I hinted at, writing and story could have been better. Let me elaborate. I feel like the story and it's dark twisted themes were handled in a fantasy type of sense rather than being grounded in reality, if that makes any sense. Though I do respect and appreciate that the film sets out to explore themes that are rather touchy and disturbing, I do feel like some parts of it can be a little much and do tend to go over the top with it's themes. But I do feel like some parts of it are handled quite well!

As a filmmaker myself, I feel like the film has a clean cinematic look that I can't help but appreciate, This was decently shot!

Overall, definitely not perfect, but not bad! The director and his cast working along side him has a lot of promise, and I can't wait to see what they all make next!

Broken Innocence feels like a slow burn through the darkest corners of the human condition. It's a film that doesn't flinch, even when you wish it would. The story of a young girl whose innocence is destroyed by years of abuse at the hands of her father, and the cold, calculating teenager she becomes, is told with a rawness that cuts deep.

What stands out most is the score-haunting, relentless, it creeps under your skin, setting the tone for the bleak atmosphere that follows. It's not just background noise; the music feels like it's driving the story, syncing with the characters' every moment of tension, rage, and despair. The score becomes an extension of the film's emotional core, pulling you further into the girl's world, where nothing is safe, and every glance, every silence, hides something sinister.

Visually, the film is striking in its harshness. There's a deliberate coldness to the cinematography-sharp lines, dim lighting, and claustrophobic framing-that matches the emotional distance the main character has cultivated over the years. The world she inhabits is gritty and unforgiving, and the camera never shies away from showing the ugliness of her reality. The cinematography pulls no punches, offering a clear, stark look at her journey from victim to villain, as manipulative as she is damaged.

Broken Innocence isn't flashy or over-the-top; it's a film that tells a brutal story with restraint, letting the tension build slowly until it bursts. You feel for the girl, even as she makes choices that push her deeper into darkness. It's a powerful piece, thanks in no small part to its careful direction and strong performances, but the score and visuals are what linger, long after the credits roll.

How this movie scored so many high reviews is beyond me. It's one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life and I've seen a lot! It's very clearly low budget, which isn't a problem as I've watched a few low budget movies and a lot of them have been good, but this is bad because it's all over the place, the acting is absolutely horrendous. I cringed many times. It covers a very sensitive topic and thankfully doesn't show too much. But that's the only thing they got right in my opinion. The sound is also not great quality. I didn't choose to watch this movie, it came on automatically after a movie I was watching ended. I wouldn't have chosen to watch it, but I gave it a chance. I was that surprised it had so many good reviews that I had to double check I was on the right imdb page for the right movie. That says it all really.