User reviews

I've seen many disturbing thriller and horror films in my time but, this...this was a wild one. What sets this film apart from a film like The Cannibal Holocaust is that it's legitimately a great film rather than being a film that's only purpose is shock factor and there is plenty of shocking things that happen in this film. Loving Polly's filmmaking is more in common with a film such as, Come and See, in which it perfectly shows the fear and pain of the characters. That's what makes Loving Polly and Come and See feel so disturbing and so real! A large part of that is due to the performances of these practically no name actors. The painfully devastating performance that Catalina Natale delivers as Polly added so much haunt to my viewing of the film by the end of it all! I also have to mention how insane and unique John Theissen Jr.'s wild man performance was. He was absolutely a terrifying mad man in this film! It was shocking to find out that he not only acted and directed the film but, was cinematography and the writer of the film as well. Where Loving Polly falls flat is it's editing at times. The concert scene feels unfinished and is a bit distracting to what's going on. Another minor problem I'm conflicted with is that I felt as if there should've been more. Where I'm conflicted is that I also kinda liked how simple the movie really was. The simplicity makes it feel more realistic and less Hollywood-ish. Maybe keep it simple but have more. My problems aside, it really was great, disturbing and violent, but great. Definitely not for everyone, probably not most people actually. If you're ever in the mood for something really horrifying, than I highly recommend Loving Polly! Also I can't believe the director is so young! Great job!

There are so many sub-genres of horror such as, slasher, ghosts, sci-fi horror, but it is rare to come across something that can only be described as "real horror". A film like Salo or a thriller like Silence of The Lambs can be considered human horror. No crazy invincible slasher scenario like the Halloween or Friday the 13th sequels, but a scenario that could actually happen or has happened and that's what Loving Polly is. It's horrible to think that something like the events of Loving Polly has happened and that's what made this film feel so scary to me. It's real! This story is a story that happens in America every year. This story feels like something you would hear or read about on the news. The Wolf is one of those psychos. And I have to mention that John Theissen Jr.'s performance absolutely steals the show. Its one of those performances that come along that make the movie. As effective as Loving Polly might be it does have some significant flaws such as some messy editing and feels a bit pretentious at times. Effective but maybe a little pretentious. Without spoiling anything, you might understand where my issues are coming from. However, Loving Polly definitely succeeded in making something really horrifying and has a bold visual style which for sure makes the film feel different than most nowadays. It's unique, maybe goes a bit too far and feels somewhat amateur, in which the budget is most likely to blame, but establishes a bold new visionary filmmaker to us. I can't wait to see what comes next!

My new favorite thing to do with friends is to log on to Amazon and find really obscure horror films to watch. Last night we decided to continue our weekly tradition and came upon Loving Polly. We went in completely blind, not knowing anything about the film, director, or actors. Usually this tradition we have is a hit or miss and about 25 mins into the film we really could not believe what we stumbled upon. Loving Polly is by no means your average by the book horror film. This was waayyyy different than anything I could've imagined. It was brutal, unpredictable, and most of all terrifying. To say this movie was disturbing is putting it lightly. I don't want to spoil anything but I can assure you, you'll feel like you're immersed in a nightmare. The acting, direction, and cinematography is top notch for a film that doesn't have a large budget at all! All that aside I did feel that the beginning felt a bit messy but when it finds it's footing, it is wild in the best way possible. Also the original music was terrifying!

This film has to be one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen. The plot is very simple and the film is short, however, Loving Polly will stick with you long after the credits. One of the reasons I found this film so terrifying was that the fact that this monster of a human being could be anyone. A monster roaming among us and my god is Theissen's performance as The Wolf absolutely terrifying. His performance is unhinged and unpredictable. Catalina Natale's performance as Polly is incredibly gut wrenching! The characters are written so well and feel so real. My only complaint is that I want more! I want to see what happens next for Polly and The Wolf. In conclusion, this film was amazing, really hard to watch but, amazing!

I don't think I've ever seen true insanity portrayed in such an almost "feral-like" way before on film. The lead performance is just really unsettling to watch and I mean that in the best way possible! It really has been a long time since I felt so much anxiety watching a movie and that's largely due to the lead actor's performance and the handheld cinematography style which brings a real sense of rawness to the film. The story is very chaotic, almost like a Safdie bros film and incredibly grim. Nothing that happens within the story is light, it's just pure dark horror throughout its 45 min runtime. The direction is also really bold and stylish which adds to that rawness, like I mentioned before. The film does have some technical flaws, for example, the warning title being cropped and poor audio at certain points but that can honestly be forgiven. LP is a rare breed of film that filmmakers are too afraid to make nowadays in our social climate. It's honest filmmaking and storytelling which is what we definitely need more of! With that being said, it isn't an easy watch and might trigger a lot of people but, at the end of the day it's an important film. Horrifying, but important! In other reviews I see people complaining about how there should've been more to the film but, I disagree. The length and the really simple plot is what makes this film feel so meaningful and real!

Is this allowed? Can they make movies like this?! The Mfer who made this is a crazy mfer! Is she ok? Is he ok? Why did I love this movie?! Am I ok? C'mon now!!!! I need more! I NEED-...actually I'm good. That was great. Don't need anymore. I think I'm gonna be sick now...

When the film ended I just sat there...stunned. Nothing about this movie was traditional. From the first 10 minutes you expect some traditional horror film but the way this film changes at its half way point, I was shook. It was so intense and graphic that at multiple points I had to stop the film. My girlfriend got physically sick. If the subjects in this film trigger you, I highly recommend you don't watch. It's so ultra-violent. It's an underground experimental horror flick that refuses to hold back. The performances are some of the best I've ever seen. John Theissen Jr. Is freaking nuts! As great and as bold as the film was, I don't know if I can ever see one of his films again if it's as nearly violent as this one. I sincerely mean all of this in the best way possible. Bravo! I hope people see this film as a true horror film rather than something that was only made for shock factor. It reminds me of the song writing of Kurt Cobain.

This movie is cruel and dirty. To compare this film to anything i'd compare it to a kid experimenting with a dying animal in the backyard. It's a messed up film. That's all I can really say. Is it a film I can watch again? HELL NO! Am I glad I endured it? HELL YES! Imagine trying to find a cheap horror movie and you come across something that is so far beyond anything you have ever seen. It's like one of those movies that gets talked about online that is like a personal achievement to sit through. It's a devastating story and it may try to hard at times to push your emotions for what it is. Aside the bit of pretentiousness with its trauma its effective at being something really evil and disturbing.

I've been thinking about this film a lot since I've seen it for the first time. For a film with a really short runtime, I feel as if i got so much out of the film. Right from the beginning I felt this unease like I was terrible anxious of where this film was going to go. A couple friends recommended I watch this film, only telling me that it's extreme and doesn't hold back. And it really doesn't hold back at all. I felt as if I couldn't take anymore of it by the end of the film. This might seem like an over exaggeration to read this but, trust me, watch this movie! You'll understand. I felt shaky and weak by the time the credits started. There's a warning in the beginning that recommends you discontinue your viewing if you feel overly disturbed or triggered. I wish I took that into more consideration. The cruelty of the "torturer" is wicked and feels almost real. The performance of the lead actor is so bizarre and scary. It terrified me that someone like this character could very well be out there. This character, The Wolf, reminds me sort of like a creature swimming below you in murky water. You don't know what he'll do or when he'll strike. If you can visualize and understand my metaphor, then you can understand the type of scary I'm talking about. Aside from all that Loving Polly has technical flaws such as, choppy editing at times and camera focusing issues. Both of those flaws can be argued that it was done on purpose to create the unease, in which it is effective at times but, it can be a bit annoying more often than not. Also there are moments of poor audio and lighting, especially during the scene with Polly and her friend after the concert. The story, direction, and acting definitely outweigh its technical flaws. Loving Polly is a film about the destruction of the human spirit. There isn't a happy ending or a true resolution. This film is a real horror story told with a real life monster. John Theissen Jr.'s flawed masterpiece displays how brutal, grisly, and unforgiving humanity can truly be.

Incredibly bold to make a film like this with our current social climate.

An absolutely horrific story with insane violence.

Truly an evil, evil, EVIL film that doesn't hold back its graphic violence.

Super untraditional and I love that!

Loving Polly is...Loving Polly is so many things such as, a film about innocence loss or maybe a film about man's desires making him a monster. The message of the film is an enigma but it works. Maybe there isn't a theme. Maybe it's just a film showcasing a violent crime. A crime that has happened in our reality too often. Just the other day I was watching the news and it mentioned a devastating crime that was exactly like this film. That's the true horror of Loving Polly. Evil like this exists. Maybe that is the theme..."Monsters live among us". This hidden Amazon gem was an incredible powerhouse of a film. I couldn't believe what I was watching. The acting is phenomenal from the actress who played Polly's friend delivering a performance within the first 10 mins which was displayed with such heartbreaking guilt for leaving her friend that night before she was abducted and raped. Seeing her friend as this empty shell of a person must be so devastating and the actress perfectly shows that off. The actress who plays Polly, I give so much credit for anyone to pull off a performance like hers. It feels so real and heartbreaking to see her descent into this painful world she experiences. And the performance of The Wolf is terrifying and unlike anything you've ever seen before. He's perfectly sadistic and insane. His white eyes surrounded by the black make up is piercing into the soul. He's like the birth child of John Wayne Gacy Jr. And Charles Manson. The direction of the film and overall look is great! It's grimy and grainy and a handheld style cinematography that gives the film a constant unease. Perfectly executed horror film!

I saw this film recently at a festival and then I forced myself to experience this sadistic film again on Amazon. After seeing this film for the first time I was shocked as was the rest of the crowd. After every showing at the festival there was an applause but after Loving Polly there was a silence. A cold silence. I specifically remember seeing shocked faces and people looking at each other as if they were trying to comprehend what they just watched. Once the credits ended people clapped and some even booed. The showing divided the audience for sure. I actually felt light headed from the 100% intensity of the film. It feels like a nightmare! The main actor is just so intense and evil that I felt disturbed by his performance alone. John Theissen's performance is what drives this film and is absolutely the standout of the film! His intensity was so believable and his character's design was so gross to even look at. Forcing myself to watch this film again was so hard to do but I was so shocked and in disbelief that a film like this exists. I needed to prove to myself that the film I watched at the festival was real. However it does feel a bit cheap and includes corny dialogue at times but all that actually works for the film in a strange way. I can't even say it's a complaint which is weird it actually feels like a part of the twisted appeal. Quite honestly though, this film is made for psychopaths and I so happen to be one.

This is a top-tier amateur film. It tells an effectively horrific horror story with extreme limitations. You can tell they were working with whatever equipment the filmmakers could afford. John Theissen Jr. (the director, actor, writer, and composer) was only twenty-one when he made this film. To tackle this subject matter at such a young age has me concerned about the young man. Also, the fact that he had numerous roles in the making of this film is wild to me. His original score is effective in a way that it is haunting and tragic. HIS PERFORMANCE! His performance as The Wolf is absolutely horrific and is the best part of this movie. This isn't a movie to watch more than once but it will stick with me for a long while.