Aconteceu na Suíte 16

Let me say from the outset that Pete Postlethwaite is one of our best character actors and that Charlea Higson is a fine writer of skewed noir thrillers (read 'Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen' if you appreciate grim, black farce). But what the hell went wrong here? A blond g*t who couldn't act his way out of a wet Kleenex, characters who've stepped out of a bad student improvisation project and sex scenes as erotic as Spam that's been left in a warm place for three weeks. I think there's some statement about voyeurism, sexuality and control trying to slip out here, but I'm too dumbfounded by the abject crapness of the entire project to remember. Are we allowed to give minus points?

Director Dominique Deruddere is a much more interesting person that this mediocre movie leads you to believe. Other than this "thing", he made some of the greatest Belgian movies ever, like "Wait until Spring Bandini", "Hombres Complicados" and especially "Crazy Love". This latter one can easily compete with prestigious American movies when it comes to drama, cinematography and plot. For "Suite 16", Deruddere had the opportunity to work with a bigger budget and some important names here and I fear that's what caused him to deliver a seemly-unfinished film. Some good dialogues and interesting content can't prevent this film from being a tedious and uninteresting social portrait. The plot introduces a young crook (Antonie Kamerling) on the run for other villains and he ends up in the suite of the wheel-chaired manipulator Glover. At first, Glover appears to be a sad and frustrated impotent guy from whom Chris can easily take advantage of but it's actually the other way around…or something. There are absolutely no exciting moments in this film and the young Dutch actor Kamerling suffers way too much from his ego. The film is stuffed with sex sequences but they're not exactly interesting or meaningful (Glover constantly hires prostitutes to make Chris stay). Suite 16 is very boring and not at all controversial, although it obviously tries to be. I advise you to skip this one and go straight for some of the other film's on Deruddere's repertoire.

I was thinking that this would be an american film, and it turned out to be a pale European-film. The acting is so unbelievably poor and especially the young lad is very unconvincing. It tells something that is my first DVD that I just couldn't bear watching. Waste of money,then.

There are a few semi-nude-scenes but unfortunately not strong enough to keep me coming back for this. Avoid at all costs!

A wheelchair bound millionaire struggles with impotence. He catches the services of a beautiful and tough blond hustler named Chris. Chris is no more than a common thug and he is out on a lamb escaping a murder charge. Glover uses him to lure women so he can watch Chris fornicate with a barrage of willing women to pay for Chris' services.

This movie is rather slow and has corny dialogue. Kammerling's physical appeal with his chiseled beauty and glorious brawn carry the film so far. But Postelwaite's creepy control takes charge as we see him take advantage of Chris.

If you want to see some softcore sex with good looking people and an old voyeur in a wheelchair, this can be satisfying. For eye candy purposes this film is alright.

"Suite 16" has always been a personal favorite of mine. Mostly due to the excellent performances of Pete Postlethwaite & Antonie Kamerling, this gripping drama in psychological and physical control has all the right ingredients to get right under your skin like a bad case of flesh eating bacteria!

Summary: After an argument and fight with a wealthy one night stand in a posh hotel, young hustler Chris finds himself trapped inside. With nowhere to go and the cops closing in on the hotel fast, he wanders into "Suite 16" in a fit of despair. Inside, a handicapped and wheelchair bound Glover (Pete Postlethwaite) is held captive for the evening once discovered by Chris.

However, things change the next day when Glover informs Chris that the woman he slept with is now dead; and that he surely will be sought out for her murder. Lonely and bored, Glover offers to shelter Chris for awhile while the cuts and bruises from the previous nights escapades have time to heal.

Without much of a choice, Chris agrees......and our twisted tale of indulgence begins.

Doting on the boy with his money, Glover feeds Chris, offers him up plenty of booze and cocaine...and lavishes him with hookers at his whim to meet his every sexual desire.

All the while Chris treats Glover like a handicapped gimp, verbally insulting and abusing him during the process. After Chris realizes that his sexual encounters are being taped and watched by Glover in the next room....Chris threatens to leave, much to Glovers dismay.

So Glover makes a deal with Chris--he will pay him to stay and be his own personal porn star--while he watches every encounter from the room afar. Since Chris has dreams of starting his own club in the Carribbean, this offer sounds to good to be true....and he gladly accepts.

However, Glovers demands on what he would like Chris to do in the sack grow increasingly more disturbing, masochistic, and bizarre. Finally, after having enough Chris tries once again to leave.

But this time--Glover offers him ALL the money he will need for his club once he leaves- IF he performs just one sick and twisted act of murder for him.

Will Chris do it?

What will be the consequences of such a high stakes game of cat and mouse?

"Suite 16" is a very good movie with some heavy handed material. However, it is quite intriguing and compelling for mature audiences- and the chemistry of Glover and Chris is quite fascinating to watch as it develops throughout the film.

The DVD transfer isn't all that great (actually it sucks) - but as a viewer without heavy expectations on ratio aspect etc...the annoyance fades rather quickly.

All in all - if you can get your hands on it..stop in and check out "Suite 16".

Highly recommended!