The Pet

This a very unusual perspective on a serious human issue, trafficking. I think it takes the subject matter seriously enough as it doesn't paint a rosey picture. However, the main topic of the movie is the girl's (not victim) willingness to comply. The movie has atmosphere, an intriguing story and is well filmed. The acting is surprisingly good and it is well directed. I can't see why it has been rated so low!

I watched this movie with a group last night who is familiar with BDSM. Personally, I feel the movie did BDSM an injustice. If I did not know better I would think that in order for someone to become involved in a "power exchange," they would have to be enticed with big money or some reason other than their need to be in a supportive and loving environment. A true BDSM relationship involves a "power exchange" which comes from the person's need to submit, a gift of submission to their Master or Dominant.

By mixing in the slave trade it only misinformed those who have no knowledge of this type of relationship, and who try to use fear tactics to make us look as if we are a danger to society. In no way did I feel that the movie showed any type of a growing relationship that would justify anyone giving up the degree of control that was displayed. Her devotion was bought and paid for.

One comment from the audience was that the acting was comparable to a porno flick. Being knowledgeable as to the true relationships involved in BDSM we could see through the errors. For someone not familiar, it would only make them think that BDSM is a horrible thing. I would not recommend this movie to anyone outside of the BDSM scene.

If you're into Master/slave alternate lifestyle and BDSM, this movie is for you. The two leads are perfectly cast - Andrea Edmondson who is very believable as the submissive human pet and Pierre Dulat who brings European sophistication to his role of master. When those two are on screen, the movie works. The rest of the cast is not up to their standards and the early part of the story is lacking and the ending is even worse, but the middle hour of this movie is really excellent with the interaction between the two leads. Andrea is nude for most of the film, but it's so natural that you won't even notice after the first few minutes. If you're not into alternate lifestyles, this movie will leave you cold because clearly this movie was aimed at a very narrowly focused audience and it hits a bulls-eye with them.

(Leaving aside the awful, wooden acting, the incoherent plot and the plodding script.)

The production company attempted to hype this on BDSM web boards and forums as being a "lifestyle movie", whilst on their website claiming that it was an Important Film dealing with the modern day scandal of human trafficking. Trying to ride those two horses is evident by their mixing up of the trappings of consensual BDSM with modern people smuggling and human organ trading. As such, they smear BDSM while providing a totally unconvincing picture of modern day slavery.

If the audience were to be persuaded of anything by this effort, it's the distortion that consensual BDSM is about exploiting vulnerable people, and that human traffickers are cartoon villains who talk like refugees from a cheap porno movies.

The acting wasn't great...Andrea Edmondson sounded as she was reading most of her lines but the story it's self was what draws you in. The only movie you can compare it to is The Secretary which was the first BDSM to hit the mainstream. I actually liked this movie better than The Secretary. I enjoyed the eroticism of it -the time it took to show how a person can become someone's pet. If you can go into it with an open mind, you can allow all types of possibilities to emerge.

There are inherent storyline flaws but I overlooked them. The ownership was erotic to me, the branding, the cage it's self. (A triangle cage does NOT look comfortable!) I feel people outside of the "scene" will not appreciate it (if they see it at all) but for those into BDSM, it's a welcome addition. Not the end all be all, but certainly a start into what will hopefully be a growing genre.