Proxy

Nothing is as it seems in this bizarre, Hitchcockian mystery thriller. Unfortunately, it doesn't all add up, either. Don't wait for an ending that wraps it all up--there isn't any, which it too bad for a film that is very well made and acted. The story starts with a bang, a brutal and senseless assault that occurs before the opening credits. And then it builds ... slowly ... ever so slowly--at a pace some may find atmospheric but others will consider tedious. As the story finally progresses, it gradually reveals that what seems to be going on isn't what's really going on, as each layer of the story hits yet another twist, leading to yet another layer. Who or what is this story about? Who's the protagonist? Who's the antagonist? It keeps the audience off balance. Somewhere in the middle was the mother of all continuity errors, where a character was wearing a bloody shirt inside the house, then a clean version of the same shirt outside the house, then the bloody version again when he went back into the house. Was the outside an extra scene that was shot later and then inserted into the film? Or was this inconsistency purposely part of the story to convey that what obviously is happening isn't really happening after all? Several things that character does never add up and are never explained. For a horror movie, there's little gore, most violence is implied or portrayed indirectly, and the blood is downright artistic. The focus is on the story. The film is very well made, it's just too bad that the story doesn't make more sense.

This review contains NO SPOILERS and I suggest you skip the reviews with spoilers until after you see the film.

In my opinion this film is a gem in a sea of gravel. Although it could be more polished it nevertheless retains its value.

The actors performances range from competent to stellar (Alexia Rasmussen was particularly impressive but everyone involved held their own and had their moments to shine) and this is in no small part due to good writing and direction. Cinematography is a similar affair ranging from adequate to mesmerizing. It is certainly a mixed bag but you'd be pressing pretty hard to go so far as to call any of it bad. I personally felt the score was superb and fit the tone of the scenes well.

With the exception of a fairly brutal scene in the first act of the film there really isn't much violence or gore on screen here and what little of it there is was handled tastefully. Visually there is nothing here you won't have seen before. What makes it disturbing is the context, the emotional and psychological mayhem rippling through the characters affected and the cold distance maintained by those less/ unaffected around them. The behavior of the main characters may be extreme but they are the extremes of common conditions.

This is where the film truly shines, as a study of the human condition when emotional needs are not satisfied, the common phenomenon of loneliness and isolation within a dense population and the resulting psychoses. The way empathy is handled in a clinical fashion by professionals and dished out superficially by peers when it suits their agenda, the way people within various relationships, genders (or rather, levels of masculinity or femininity within both genders) as well as how deserving a person may actually be of true empathy anyway are all bouncing off each other here and it's really engrossing to behold if this sort of thing interests you.

I really don't want to spoil anything for any of the viewers for whom this film is intended so I hope it suffices to say that there are "twists" resulting from the nontraditional narrative structure that create an unpredictable thriller spliced with elements of drama/ horror. Every time I made an educated assumption of where things were headed the film surprised me and seemed to revel in doing so until the credits rolled.

If you are the type of person who thinks a character in a film who happens to be of a certain gender or sexual orientation being portrayed as flawed is an accusation directed at everyone in that category or, more importantly, are enduring the loss of a loved one . . . viewer discretion is advised.

I hope this film isn't lost in the horde of mediocre entries in the genre(s). From me this film scores a solid 8/10.

Some scenes are really well-crafted (the extreme slow motion scenes in particular are gorgeous) so there is definitely some talent behind the camera.

But, and that's a big but, the pace is at a snails speed at times and you really get the itchy trigger finger for the fast-forward remote button a lot.

I think had it been edited down to 90 minutes it could have been a fairly effective movie over all but as it is you really need to have a lot of patience with it, it's 2 hours long but it feels even longer.

And the second hour of the movie doesn't quite come together as well as I'm sure they intended, which is a shame because it does have a pretty cool plot which reminded me a bit of French horrors more so than American.

So yeah overall a strong 4 or a weak 5 from me.

This is an outstanding film, but it isn't for everyone.

It isn't a slasher-screamer-jump out of your seat flick. No no.

This film gained my shocked interest immediately, and to be frank it was held throughout the rest of the ride.

This is definitely not a film for anyone who has recently suffered a loss, in fact it should be viewed by the loss-experienced only when they have completely recovered and can look at anything. Preferably YEARS after they've fully recovered, because it will take you right back to the grimness of deep loss and the eternal question, why ?

For those who work in the field, or have seen others go through loss and grief, or have experienced counter-cultures on a personal basis, this film is an incredible insight into the workings of twisted minds, no matter be they rich, poor, in-between or socially minded misguideds who treat their clients like fodder.

Superbly acted, very well crafted and a sensible and life-like script and dialogue are to be rewarded with praise indeed.

Just be sure to be aware of your mental strength before you embark on a true roller-coaster ride that is definitely not by proxy....

If you're looking for a movie that gives you that feeling like you're not sure what you have been apart of, then take a moment to view here. As you sit alone in the dark talking aloud to the TV, you'll be asking yourself questions like: It's a horror? Oh, is it mystery? Maybe it's a psycho killer type thing? Or is it just weird? The ending, It couldn't of ended any other way! I liked it.

The main character really pulled me into the story. She is alone and pregnant, we don't know why. An introvert loner who's sadness seems obvious for all to see. When the first shocking seen hits you, it hits you twice as hard as you know this will send her down some weird pit of crazy despair that only someone on the edge can feel.

Then as the next few scenes of the movie unfold, you can sense that something else is happening and That's when I sat up as I wasn't sure what is happening or what will happen next. As you know, there are way too many movies where you know what happens next!

You have to like unconventional movies or you won't enjoy this strange little trip into weirdness.