Kissed

Film lovers: Please don't pay too much attention to the Marco Devilboy review of this unusual film. I can understand someone not enjoying KISSED because it deals with a supremely unappetizing subject. But then it quietly, delicately opens up that subject (and the characters involved) and wraps the viewer in an embrace that becomes both irresistible and horrifying. The movie works. When I first saw it, it introduced me to a young actress I have since followed and never seen give a bad performance: Molly Parker. Peter Outerbridge is wonderful, too. Recalling this film now, several years after first watching it, such a rush of thoughts and feelings come back to me that I will probably have to see it once again. If you are willing to go somewhere you never imagined you would find yourself--and then deal with what you discover there--KISSED is not to missed.

Maybe the greatest achievement of the film is that it was able to deal with an subject such as necrophilia without falling into tastelessness. It's easy getting horrified at the idea of people being sexually attracted for corpses, but the relationship of mankind with death (That primigenial and fascinating fear) can go that far and, if you think of it, it goes way far beyond . If you are not willing to get into any reflexions about how the dead are treated, you may fell uneasy about the film. The contrast between Sandra and the other people manipulating bodies (the teachers, the embalmer) is rather eloquent.

But what I personally liked the best about it is how it figures relationships, elucidating the insane need of one not having the other have its own and private corner, the need of forcing the other to share it, and the woe that comes from not being able to stand it. In this line, necrophilia becomes just an excuse.

I remember seeing this movie whenit was released in the theatres in Canada. We went to see the movie knowing nothing about it. I was a surprise as to the subject and I remember many people were shocked and repelled just by the subject. I was actually thrilled by the way the subject was approached. It wasn't vulgar, obscene or bawdy; on the contrary it was sensitive, almost romantic. One emphasizes with the main character, a girl who is attracted by dead persons. I felt seduced, almost hypnotised by many scenes.

All in all a very special and an excellent movie, but one which may not be seen superficially.

The story in this movie is, as often quoted, controversial - and its a story one could expect a great movie of. However, this one fails strongly to get deep into the issue, to what *really* drives Sandra (the girl in the movie) to her different sexual experiences, and likewise, how her "boyfriend" *really* feels about it which eventually leads to the tragic ending. It is very shallow and only touches on the edge of the mystery. 78 minutes running time could easily be extended by half an hour in order to incorporate this. A better script and a better director would probably lift the movie up to the unreasonable high average it has reached at IMDB...

Movies about necrophilia are incredibly rare,mainly because this subject matter is too offensive for many filmmakers.So kudos should go to Lynne Stopkevich for creating this brave film(I'm dying to see her new feature "Suspicious River")."Kissed" isn't just another exploitation film-the depiction of necrophilia in it is really subtle.It's still more disturbing than many gross-out shockers,because it's so well-made.The acting is excellent and the direction is well-handled.So if you like this movie check out such necro-horrors like "Aftermath"(1993),"Buio Omega"(1979)and "Neromantik" series(1987,1992).The music(especially closing song)is amazing too!