Swallowed

I was thinking this would be a really gross or a horrific body horror film and it wasn't anything that was really great. The body horror was barely there, it wasn't really scary. I would not call this horror. I kept waiting for something to happen, for it to get truly gruesome because I really felt from what people were saying that I would end up profoundly disturbed, but it never happened. Acting was good, I would call this a thriller but not horror, no way. It's a good story but it needed more to be considered a really disturbing body horror movie. I was thinking it might have some elements of Shivers or Rabid, but it never really went for it.

'Swallowed' is a very different kind of horror movie. It doesn't rely on blood, guts and gore. But this is as unnerving a film as you're going to get. This was a difficult watch for many reasons.

Cooper Koch stars as Benjamin, a handsome young gay man who is about to move to California to become a porn star. Jose Colon stars as his best (straight) friend, Dom. One night - after an evening of clubbing - Dom has to make "one quick stop" on the way home.

I don't want to do spoilers here, but as you can imagine this quick stop turned out to be a complete nightmare. They soon find themselves in the cruel and unsympathetic world of drug smuggling - but this is by not your average drug trafficking movie! Not knowing what was going to happen to them with the dire circumstances they found themselves in, suspense gnawed at me all the way, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie. I was so nervous for these poor guys!

The performances are very good. I liked Benjamin and rooted for him. Mark Patton stars as the film's main antagonist, Rich (even though he only appears almost at the final act). This final act had quite a few surprises in store!

There's quite a bit of full frontal male nudity here - even glimpses of an erection - but I honestly didn't mind in the least! It was relevant within the context of the film and never sleazy or exploited. 'Swallowed' is an interesting film with a great payoff. I really liked it.

For the past few years horror films have become incredibly stagnant as a result of the continual rehashing of the same old tired genres: we constantly see endless zombie films, as well as countless vampire and "demonic possession" plotlines that have become increasingly derivative. Last night I saw "Swallowed," and it was refreshing to see director and writer Carter Stevens actually make an attempt to step out of the box and create something different for a change. In 2006 I saw an earlier short by Stevens called "Bugcrush" that dealt with a similar idea, but "Swallowed" has obviously expanded and reworked it.

"Swallowed's" storyline begins with two best friends, Benjamin (Cooper Koch) and Dom (Jose Colon) who reside in a small Maine town and are celebrating in a local bar. A clearly naive Benjamin has plans to move to Los Angeles, where he's convinced he'll become a successful porn star. Unbeknownst to him, Dom has arranged to supply his buddy with extra cash before he leaves by agreeing to become a drug runner as they drive across the border that night.

The film progresses and its mood becomes more intense and claustrophobic as the two young men are forced at gunpoint into swallowing the unknown, condom-encased drugs Dom agreed to smuggle by a demanding young woman (Jena Malone) who wants them delivered to her dealer by any means possible. Eventually things become more nightmarish when they realize not only the results of what they've actually swallowed, but that the drug dealer they finally encounter (Mark Patton) turns out to be an emotionally disturbed, perverse old queen intent on preying on Benjamin. I've left quite a few details out here, but that's as far as I'll go in revealing any more of the film's plot in order to avoid spoilers.

Unlike another reviewer here, I'm not sure I agree that this film necessarily falls into anything that resembles Cronenberg's "body horror" category, but I'll agree it comes close. For a low-budget production, both Carter Stevens' script and direction are tight, suspenseful, and never become predictable. The film is also beautifully photographed. What did stand out the most for me were the calibre of the performances, which I felt were unusually powerful for an independent horror film. Both Koch and Colon (the latter who has apparently never been in a film before, at least according to IMDB) are excellent. Mark Patton is grotesquely effective and believable and as the mannered, psychopathic drug dealer. Jena Malone is also very strong, although I thought at times her character was drawn a little too one-dimensionally.

Like just about any horror film, I did think there were some weaknesses in "Swallowed." Despite a considerable buildup emphasizing how important it was for the characters to hide the drugs in order to travel past the border, the resulting border scene itself only consisted of a very brief conversation with a patrol officer and then it was over. The quick, painless conversation provided no suspense or explanation as to why the character needed to swallow the drugs in the first place, other than to advance the film's plot. Secondly, "Swallowed" (certainly emphasized by Mark Patton's very strong performance) once again portrays the tired stereotype of the older gay man preying on the younger. Lastly, there is a cheery and strangely pat "epilogue" that felt tacked on to the end credits. Not only did it seem somewhat jarring to the film's earlier tone, but it also seemed totally unfeasible. Again, giving more details would only reveal more of "Swallowed's plot.

These are small elements. "Swallowed" is worth seeing, especially compared to the anemic offerings we're being offered from the current horror genre. There's enough tension and suspense in this feature to make it worthwhile viewing.

It's a shame when a movie makers have a fantastic story, actors, and setting to create something wonderful, and they throw it all away.

I'm not even upset with the amount of suspended belief I allowed to get into this story, it's the constant change in the narrative that made me want to stop watching,

The build up was good, and then when you get to final half of the movie, it feels so disconnected from everything they set up. It felt as if they had a bunch of wild ideas and they just went with it without ever thinking about the time of the of the first half of the movie.

All the love for indie makers, but for the love, make something that make sense rather than just trying to be different.

... come out right? Well no pun intended here, but as the title suggests ... well if you only know the title, you may be in for quite the ride, like I was. Just the beginning was quite something - you get the feeling for our two main characters and what they are about.

Of course only as the movie progresses we get to see how deep their friendship goes ... almost literally and no pun intended. There are scenes here that are not easy to watch - even if they are not explicitly shown. On the other hand, this has quite a lot of male nudity in it. If you have issues with that - well you have been "warned" (I too am more fond of the female body, just saying).

On another note, the movie has Mark Patton in it. If you do not know him: he was in one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. And his character was quite prominent - also in how he changed perception in male leads. Not just for the time this was made.

He really goes all out with his character here. Even more fun when you have met him in real life and know what a sweetheart he is - the character he portrays is anything but. But that is acting - the slow burn on the other hand may not be everyones cup of tea ... suspend your disbelief and go with the flow ...