CHAINED (2012)

Directed By: Jennifer Lynch 
Written By: Jennifer Lynch 
Based On The Screenplay: Damian O’Donnell 
Cinematography By: Shane Daly 
Editor: Daryl K. Davis & Chris A. Peterson 

Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Eamon Farren, Julia Ormand, Jake Weber, Gina Philips, Evan Bird
*Please note that some trivia and facts have been republished from imdb among other sources In this review

This movie is about A cab driver called Bob who picks up women and takes them to his house where he kills them. But on this one day he picks up a woman and her 9 year old son Tim. Bob then makes Tim live in the house with him all while he keeps killing women. Tim grows up there, watching, seeing all that happens. Bob wants to make him his protégé. Will Tim carry on the legacy?

There is rarely a time when it comes to a film that isn't a sequel where I ask why was this made. What compelled anyone involved. Not only to make this, but to explain how this was a story that needed to not only be told. Also ultimately shared.

Now I am not against people telling stories visually. No matter how nasty or disturbing they might be but this one takes the cake. This side of professional funding and not the no Budgets her might have a harder time getting budgets and professionals to work on them. As they are that unsettling. Though we watch systematically. How the serial killer works, his methods of gathering his prey and his manner of enslavement for his young charge. In the first 15 minutes the tone and rules are set.

Luckily the film isn't as graphic as it seems to be headed. There is violence and rape, luckily the later is kept off screen. The film no matter what feels exploitive. Even though it is of the school where it would rather you imagine some of the more intense horror rather then show it. As what you will come up with is much worse then the filmmakers could have or at least could have afforded.

It's not the personification of evil and the events that are disturbing. Again it's a matter of why. As it's not anything. We haven't seen in other films. Maybe not assembled and in such detail that keeps us informed.

I can't say the film is badly made or filmed. Just that this is one of the rare times where the subject and material truly disturbed and bothered me so much that it upset me.

Which in the end is one of the films strengths. Is it's ability to outrage and disturb. Where as luckily early on we don't have to witness the acts of violence and brutality. That in this film and too many others are only female victims. Things are more suggested or we see the aftermath of actions.

It seems like ugliness is all around in this film. With little to no hope. Even as at times the film tries to humanize the monster and give us a glimpse into his history. As it seems rare to just let someone be evil naturally or Just got evil's sake. Unless a ghost or possessed by a demon or just the ever popular supernatural slasher.

As here played by Vincent D'Onofrio as the monster. He is cold yet conniving with a weird speech impediment. That makes him In his speech come off as slow. Though smart and crude in his actions. A brutal hulk.

Though a young child in the beginning. Luckily despite more of the shock to the system of seeing a child have to heal with cleansing and being held captive by a madman and having to hear the slaughter of the victims. The film jumps ahead to the child being older a teenager really. As the killer tries to be a demented father figure and teacher of sorts to his chosen trade. Strangely or luckily the film keeps a certain blandness to it. As each time the film seems to try to go in a more caring way. The monster side of his personality comes out and reminds just how despicable he truly is.

As the child matures so does what is shown on screen and we get more details of their life together over the years. The monster has a strange need to push his captor into the family business. Even as he keeps him chained up around the house most of the time.

Though I think the build-up in ones mind where you think it is going or suggested rather then what is shown.

Cliches such as scantily clad victim escape that you know wind be successful, but provides some kind of nudity and on screen sexuality. Though more in helpless victim Role. As the director might have chosen to do this and a realistic detail or to turn the tables on audience members who crave that sort of thing giving it to them in the middle of such violence and desperation. Takes the sexuality out of it and shames the audience member who dares to try to get turned on by it.

It seems there to give an excuse or make us feel better there were inciting incidences to make them this way. Both Jennifer Lynch and Vincent D’Onofrio have stated they would have preferred that the title of this film be "Rabbit".

In the original script, Rabbit left the house to discover that an entire subdivision had been built up unbeknown to him, filled with children and families, all unaware of the horrors going on inside the house.

The original script called for Bob to keep pieces of his victims in jars and cut off Rabbit's thumbs. When Jennifer Lynch took on the project, she did some re-writes to reduce the violent nature of the film. Which also helps make the movie creepier and more psychological

Some viewers complained that the ending of the film felt rushed and tagged on. Jennifer Lynch said that the ending made more sense in the script, but due to time and budget constraints, it wasn't able to be executed properly.

The original focus of the story involved detectives actively pursuing Bob, who they nicknamed "The Dicer" for his habit of cutting women up before killing them. The relationship between Bob and Rabbit was secondary.

The film directed by Jennifer lynch seems more a technical direction rather the exploitive nature the story and surroundings seem to give off. I am glad to see her working again. She seems to try to do something different with each film and this is no exception. It works but seems to strive to be deep then it actually is. Even with the few surprises it offers.


Grade: C