Sweet Karma

I saw the world premiere of this movie at the 2009 Fantasia Movie Festival in Montreal. I went in with an open mind, not necessarily hoping or dreading anything. But I have to admit, my initial thoughts were that the "rape revenge" thing has been done to death. It seems like an easy way to have sex and violence in your movie and draw the most typical movie-watching crowd (ie. an easy way to make a fast buck).

Sweet Karma surprised me. Right off the bat, the movie has a very dark and gritty feel to it that draws you in. Shera Bedard is awesome as Karma, avenging the death of her sister. Having the "heroine" be a mute added a great dimension to her character. She does a great job of expressing emotions and intentions through her eyes and body language. She's really believable as a shy young woman who has nothing left to lose and forces herself to take out her anger on those who're responsible. This also adds an unexpected complexity to the movie, since Karma can't tell her story herself. There are sporadic "flashback"-type scenes early on which help to clarify things, and these do a great job of helping us understand what's going on.

Most of the rest of the cast is great too. The Russian accents don't sound forced or fake. The main "bad guys" are especially despicable, and I found myself wanting Karma to succeed in her self-appointed mission. One exception is John Tokatlidis, who was neither believable nor very interesting. In fact, when his character is focused on about halfway through, the movie's quality goes down a couple notches. He manages to bring it down all by himself.

One of the big draws for me about Sweet Karma is the fact that it's a purely Canadian movie. The story is based in Toronto, and it was entirely filmed there. Everything was financed by the crew, apparently with no outside help. Unfortunately, it seems like the story could've happened anywhere just by changing a few words in the script. There were almost no recognizable Toronto landmarks, and very few Toronto-specific scenes except maybe the airport. There's a scene near the beginning of the movie where the bad guys are joking about forming a hockey team, but it feels tacked-on and out of place. Almost like someone said "Hey, this movie doesn't feel Canadian enough, let's add some hockey dialog!" Despite this, it's great to see a purely Canadian production that's so engrossing and entertaining. Maybe the fact that it doesn't really "feel" Canadian is a good thing since the movie can appeal to a bigger audience outside the country... if they cut out that scene with the hockey dialog.

Obviously, sex and violence were portrayed. But not in an over-the-top way, only in a realistic way that fit with the theme of the movie. This definitely isn't PG-13 stuff, but it's not gratuitous either.

The rest of the audience really seemed to enjoy the movie too. There was loud applause after the credits, and the questions that people asked the crew during the Q&A session showed a lot of interest.

I'm really glad I went to see Sweet Karma, it's an excellent take on the old "revenge" theme. For me, nothing will ever beat High Plains Drifter as the best "revenge" movie, but Sweet Karma comes close, and ranks right up there as one of the best movies I've seen recently. For a purely independent film, the production values were really high, even matching or exceeding some of the stuff coming out of Hollywood these days... especially the ones that pretend to be "nitty gritty".

I caught this film at Fantastic Fest in Austin, during a sold out screening. Clearly the reason the screening was sold out is that the lead actress was in attendance, days after winning an award for Next Wave Best Actress, so everyone wanted to know what the fuss was about. I won't bother going into the details about the plot since it's covered here by others, but I gotta say this was a cool little film. It's a nice modern take on the old style 70's revenge film. It's got a great energy, an engaging story, some bad-ass, albeit low-rent kill scenes, and yes, the performance from the first-time lead actress is a knock-out. She owns the screen. From the reaction of the audience, and the fact that almost 3/4 of them stuck around for the Q&A, I'd safely say that most others would agree with me. A perfect film? No. But a solid, must-see piece of entertainment? You bet.

Andrew Thomas Hunt is already a few years in the television business as a writer and producer and by now he was ready to become first time director of this revenge flick. Andrew is also a photographer and by circumstances he came in contact with Shera Bechard, the main lead. By seeing her face and body he knew immediately that she was perfect for the role. And let me say, she was. Sadly this could be her only film project. She's still modelling and is going for that part but we are stuck here with her and she did an amazing job. Just to play the part of Karma is amazing, she needs to go nude, gave a lot of blood over her and act like she's a mute. She proofs as being Playboy's Playmate of November 2010 that she has more to offer than just her funbags. If this was made back in the seventies it would be a straight exploitation flick in the style of Last House On The Left. It is never that gory or bloody but it's just brutal, but not exaggerated as in for example Horseman. Still it's a nice flick to see with a great plot. Easy to see that it was low budget too, they never used extra lighting for some shots which add to the exploitation atmosphere. I liked it a lot even as a being a gorehound. Catch it while you can.

Playboy Playmate of the Month (November 2010) Shera Bechard gives acting a whirl. This is her first, and possibly only film, so you better run to see it.

A 70s style revenge flick that takes place largely in a strip club run by the Russian mafia, it is violent and titillating at the same time.

Naturally, the mob suspects a rival, not the sister of one of it's girls. That will give Karma time to kill a few more.

The bodies keep piling up as Karma seeks revenge only to find in the end that the cost may be too high.

Cool action in a seedy setting.

In the shadowy realm of crime thrillers, "Sweet Karma" (2009) emerges as a brutal, yet intriguing exploration of vengeance and the human spirit. Directed by Andrew Thomas Hunt and starring the enigmatic Shera Bechard as the titular character, the film weaves a dark and gritty tale of retribution in the seedy underbelly of Toronto's criminal world.

Karma, a mute woman of striking beauty, embarks on a merciless crusade to avenge her sister's death at the hands of a ruthless Russian sex trafficking ring. Bechard delivers a haunting performance as the stoic Karma, her silence amplifying the intensity of her actions. Through her eyes, we witness the pain and determination that drive her forward.

The film's visual style is reminiscent of the neo-noir aesthetic, with its desaturated colors and high contrast lighting, effectively setting the stage for this grim tale. Hunt's direction is unapologetically bold, presenting the gruesome reality of the sex trafficking industry and its associated violence without flinching.

However, "Sweet Karma" is not without its flaws. The lack of character development, particularly among the antagonists, can leave the audience feeling somewhat disconnected from the film's emotional core. This, coupled with an occasionally uneven pacing, detracts from the overall experience.

Yet, despite its shortcomings, "Sweet Karma" offers a compelling narrative that commands attention. The film's relentless brutality and Bechard's captivating performance ultimately overshadow its imperfections, leaving viewers with a memorable and visceral cinematic experience.

In the end, "Sweet Karma" stands as a testament to the power of raw, unyielding determination in the face of unspeakable cruelty. Though it may not appeal to everyone, fans of the revenge thriller genre will find a harrowing and satisfying journey into the heart of darkness. As the old adage goes, "revenge is a dish best served cold," and in "Sweet Karma," it's a dish served with a chilling, ruthless precision.

6 out of 10 stars.