Model Hunger

I just watched this. I just finished this. Model Hunger is the worst movie I've seen all year. I like to try out a lot of the indie horrors, so trust me when I say, this movie has no comparison in 2019.

The plot is somewhat of a used idea, as seen in The Neon Demon, but with 0 execution, 0 camera work, no special effects, no logic and an abysmal ending. I rated it 1 cause there is nowhere lower to go. Stay away from it, but if you decide to perhaps give it a try, watch the trailer instead. You'll get your money's worth right there, paid in time of course.

Model Hunger 1/10, long time since I've rated a movie so low. Stay away, look away, run don't walk away.

Cheers!

I saw this when it was being screened at film festivals, and me being a super fan of Rochon at the time, I was all about it. Until the movie started. The movie itself is very poorly shot, lit and acted (except for Lowry, who shined in her role). Lowry's performance alone was not enough to save this movie. People were falling asleep in the theater, and endlessly checking their watches. After the show was over, there was a Q&A with Debbie, and it was pretty much crickets. No one really had anything to say. She knew I was probably her biggest fan in the audience, so she asked me if I had any questions, and I just drew a blank. I felt like a jerk for not liking the movie, but I'm not going to pretend I did just because I was a fan of the director. Perhaps Debbie would have done a better job directing her own screenplay/story. But after this movie, I'm not really in too big of a hurry to find out.

I first saw this when it premiered at Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. It was quite the surprise! Since then, I have watched it several times, and each time I see more and more of the through its layers. This film has heart and works on so many levels. Debbie Rochon truly puts her experience as a horror icon and her love for the genre into every frame, making a true homage, both visually and thematically, to films from the grindhouse to Scorcese. It is a dark comedy worth getting immersed in. There is a reason that Lynn Lowry is so fond of it and views Ginny Reilly as one of her best roles. Ms. Lowry is a powerhouse here! And Tiffany Shepis is amazing as she weaves through an intense and emotional role towards the final confrontation. See this film!

A woman who was once a desired model has been long since forgotten and lives by herself. She has a habit of taking young girls into her house and ends up eating them or serving them in dishes to the neighbours. A couple move in next door and right away the wife wonders what is going on in that house.

Lynn Lowry plays the older lady. I met her and she is the nicest person you could ever meet so that personality is how she coaxes her prey into the house and then she does a 180 and starts cutting off your genitalia. She does an amazing job in this one. Tiffany Shepis plays the detective neighbour who has a few issues of her own. I enjoyed this one and liked the way it tells people to be yourself.

Former pin-up model and actress Ginny (Lynn Lowry) had been cast aside by the heartless and exploitative modeling industry when she was a young woman due to her body type. Ginny didn't take rejection well and over the years developed into a revenge seeking, blood thirsty, broken woman.

Scott Hallam praises star Lynn Lowry, noting that she "literally has to serve up equal parts frail old woman, sexy temptress, good Samaritan, and bat-(expletive) crazy killer all while offering some really thought-provoking dialogue about what true beauty is and what type of beauty is valued by society. Lowry absolutely crushes it in every aspect of her character." Hallam is right, and those who are saying that Lowry has given one of the best performances of her career are correct.

Dave Dubrow, usually a champion of independent film, describes this one as "Muddy in theme, terrible in script, and inconsistent in performance, the movie failed to rise above the shoestring production quality." He also (correctly) points out the excessive profanity, shaky camera and often out-of-focus scenes. (By no means am I anti-profanity, but there were far more f-bombs than anyone could ever naturally use in one sentence.) I have to say that the camera was really what killed this film. The casting is great, the acting ranges between adequate and excellent (some actors were more invested than others), and the concept is clever. But everything just looks horrible – too bright, too dark, too jittery. When you have one of the goddesses of the silver screen, Tiffany Shepis, and you find a way to make her look unflattering, you know your camera is garbage.

Despite its shortcomings, the disc may be worth picking up if you're a fan of any of those involved. The special features alone are a good draw. The DVD from Wild Eye Releasing includes a feature-length commentary with director Debbie Rochon, deleted scenes, a Babette Bombshell short, Voltaire interview and much more.