Excess Flesh

6.25 of 10. Are they roommates or just 2 versions of the same person happening within a psychotic aspiring model with a tendency to binge on eating, sex, and self abuse? Either way, you get 2 similar looking actresses, a slender model and a plump mess, playing the lead rolls.

As simply horror and gore, it doesn't pick up until the latter part of the film. The first half is essentially dedicated to setting up the characters and their/her various disorders/psychoses. That does set up a mystery angle to it and make the film more enjoyable and less predictable as to where it's going.

It's rare to get so much character depth, plot, gross-out scenes, horror, and hot ass shots in the same film. Worth a watch even though it makes a mistake at the end with not really completing the story and going with more of a setup for a sequel.

At first viewing, Excess Flesh is a story about an obsessed woman who imprisons her sexy roommate in a twisted attempt to bring them together -- a story of self-loathing, jealousy, love-hate, rage and, finally, about revenge and making right all things evil.

Ultimately, it's a scathing commentary on hyper-consumerism, where more is more and never enough. Excess Flesh is the state of the world through the lens of its empathic, embittered interpreter, Director, Patrick Kennelly. This is a world of consumerism, a world where one's identity is determined by what they wear, how they look, who they know and how they measure up to the cruel and impossible standards or abandon all hope. This work is both a seminal work and a masterwork – a view of a dysmorphic world through the piercing mind's eye of the film's creator.

This is not torture horror. This is a cunning complex film and the film reveals more and more the more you watch it. More is more. Consume. More.

The acting in this film is cult status. Bethany Orr's performance places her firmly in the ranks of Isabelle Adjani in Zulawski's classic "Possession." Orr's performance is not to be missed … nor is it to be misunderstood. Take time to indulge in this actor's revelations of character, nuance and the human condition. It is a visceral, infinite, and a deeply instinctive interpretation of one's loss of one's soul to the societal mediation of one's self.

Excess Flesh was a risk to make. Films like Excess Flesh are a risk for investors. Excess Flesh is a smartly produced hybrid genre film and the filmmakers deserve praise. Congrats to Exec Producer Dennis Garcia and Walking to the Moon Productions, for taking a chance on a film that needed to be made and for recognizing the talents of the filmmakers. You're a hero to indie filmmakers everywhere … Make more, please.

Excess Flesh is not for the weak of mind, heart, or soul. Take a look. Take your time and let happen. I recommend that you watch it more than once. Do it in excess.

For not the right reasons I might add. And I'm not talking about this being one of the few reviews of mine that have been deleted. As you can see though I'm not entire alone with my opinion on the movie. Still from the top I do think this has a more than fine idea and storyline. Apart from those who may not like movies "sprinkled" or filled entirely with social critisicm, they may have issues already with the movie. But everyone else may not just be intrigued by this.

And that is where I have to say that the movie fails. And it is not so much the grotesque and quite visceral/graphic nature of it all (though you should not be too squeamish about these things either). It is about how the story evolves and how it is edited together. Stretching the viewer patience to the point it'll break for most. Not to mention the incredible straining characters (actor choices/dialog) that you'll either endure to get to the "good parts" or just plain will be annoyed by it ... So well intended but very flawed to say the least

This intimate look at the burgeoning relationship between two formerly platonic female friends is as much a warm love letter to the city of Los Angeles, seen through the lens of its delightful culinary traditions, as it is a tale is of finding love right where you least expect it — at home, in the kitchen... and the bedroom. From the opening, where roommate Jennifer awkwardly tries to compliment friend and roommate Jill ("You're not fat"), to the soulful kiss they openly share at the end, the evolution of these two reluctant partners' relationship as they fall inexorably into each others' arms is a heartwarming tale you'll remember at least though dinner.

Director Patrick Kineally, who has at least seen a music video, prods the story along like a pirate with a cutlass prodding you off the plank with amusing cut scenes featuring off-the- wall tertiary characters, like the nosy across-the-hall neighbor with her nonstop cavalcade of charmingly inappropriate, overdone gifts, or the handsome boyfriend with an apparent heart of gold who lives only to spread love as far and wide as he can.

The ultimate affect is a dizzying series of vignettes showcasing the growing connection of these two women, a tour-de-farce grounded in the the ingenious device of one's love of cooking without eating and the other's of eating without cooking, as it spins towards a glorious, triumphal act of love and conciliation as warm, beautiful, and crazy as the City of Angels itself.

Tear open a bag of Doritos and watch it with someone you love.

It's too bad because from watching the preview it looked good. It's very misleading. Seems like they tried too hard to make an "artsy" movie (lots of unnecessary slow motion, close ups and over exaggerated noises). It's a shame because it could've been a really good psychological thriller. I can say that the actresses were somewhat good. Both were annoying and I believe that was their goal in this movie. The downside was, I didn't care about what happened to either of them. They never pulled me in enough to root for one or the other. If you are into slow burning thrillers that have a big time indie feel to them and fall short at the end, you may like this. To me it was a complete waste of time.