Chained (2012)
Studio: Anchor Bay
Theatrical Release: August 5, 2012
Blu Ray Release: October 2, 2012
Director: Jennifer Lynch
R
Review by James Klein
Don't let the generic title and the hard to make out, Saw-inspired cover art scare you away. Chained is a gripping and disturbing horror thriller that will have you wondering, why hasn't this little film been talked about more? This is one of the few times I have reviewed a movie and couldn't wait to dive into the special features (alas, there aren't many here) to see or learn more about the making of this film.
When a nine year old boy and his mother are picked up at the movies by a taxi, all seems well as the two are taken back home. But when cab driver Bob misses the exit and refuses to turn around, Mom quickly tries to call the police on her cell but is too late. While the young boy watches his mother be brutally beaten and taken into a desolate house, he waits anxiously in the locked up cab as he hears his mother's screams of pain and terror. When Bob returns for the boy with blood smears on his shirt and face, one can only imagine what happened to poor Mom. Thrown into the house, Bob tells the boy that he won't see his mother ever again and finally looks at him and says, "You got me and no one else."
Bob is a serial killer of women. He calls them whores, sluts and even warns the young boy who he calls Rabbit about their ways. Rabbit is not allowed to speak unless spoken to, eats only when Bob leaves the table which is mostly scraps, and must open the door within 10 seconds for Bob when he comes home with a victim. As Bob rapes and murders the women, Rabbit crawls under the kitchen table, crying and covering his ears to the horror that is his new life. When Rabbit does attempt to break out of the house, he is quickly caught by Bob who then chains him to his bed to teach him a lesson.
As years go by, Bob begins to take Rabbit under his wing and starts to teach him the human anatomy and the art of killing. While he grows up, Rabbit is slowly allowed to sit with Bob and is offered a candy bar once in awhile. Bob soon knows the young man will soon have fantasies about girls and so Bob forces Rabbit into picking out a woman for him to rape and murder.
While Chained is not for everyone and at times difficult to watch, the movie is extremely well made and delivers some decent scares. What I enjoyed about Chained is seeing this father/son relationship taking place while this wave of violence is all around them. One can't help but feel sorry for the gaunt and frail Rabbit as he is forced into doing something he wants no part of. When Bob takes him outside for the first time in 10 years, Rabbit sees the taxi cab, remembering that the last time he saw his own mother was inside this cab. Is Rabbit slowly going insane? Can he somehow stop Bob or break free from this madman?
Chained would not have worked if not for the right actors and Vincent D'Onofrio is absolutely amazing as Bob. I have always been a fan of his since Full Metal Jacket. He can play heroes and villains, serial killers and police officers. The man is a true actor, not shying away from dark films or movies that push certain boundaries. He has always been an actor to take risks and by doing so, he has become in my opinion a top notch performer. While Bob is pure evil and a monster, he has a certain charm about him and due to his troubled childhood (touched on only briefly which I would have liked to have seen more of) one can't help but feel sorry for this insane man. Newcomer Famon Farren is also great as Rabbit. His blank stares and wild eyes are enough to give me the chills and yet feel sympathy for what this young man has become.
My biggest complaint regarding Chained is the some what tacked on ending. While it was a strange twist, it didn't work for me and came across as forced. Without giving it away, the very climax almost feels like it belonged on a Lifetime movie...with some blood thrown in.
The blu ray looks and sounds great. Crystal clear in both picture and sound. I loved the deleted scene that caused the film to originally receive an NC-17 (nothing like a good gory throat slash with actually make up effects!) and while the movie has audio commentary by D'Onofrio and director Jennifer Lynch, I was craving for a featurette on the making of this powerful horror/drama.
For fans of dark, disturbing, horror/thrillers or even for fans of good film making and fantastic acting, Chained is a film you need to check out.
[Rating: 4]
Theatrical Release: August 5, 2012
Blu Ray Release: October 2, 2012
Director: Jennifer Lynch
R
Review by James Klein
Don't let the generic title and the hard to make out, Saw-inspired cover art scare you away. Chained is a gripping and disturbing horror thriller that will have you wondering, why hasn't this little film been talked about more? This is one of the few times I have reviewed a movie and couldn't wait to dive into the special features (alas, there aren't many here) to see or learn more about the making of this film.
When a nine year old boy and his mother are picked up at the movies by a taxi, all seems well as the two are taken back home. But when cab driver Bob misses the exit and refuses to turn around, Mom quickly tries to call the police on her cell but is too late. While the young boy watches his mother be brutally beaten and taken into a desolate house, he waits anxiously in the locked up cab as he hears his mother's screams of pain and terror. When Bob returns for the boy with blood smears on his shirt and face, one can only imagine what happened to poor Mom. Thrown into the house, Bob tells the boy that he won't see his mother ever again and finally looks at him and says, "You got me and no one else."
Bob is a serial killer of women. He calls them whores, sluts and even warns the young boy who he calls Rabbit about their ways. Rabbit is not allowed to speak unless spoken to, eats only when Bob leaves the table which is mostly scraps, and must open the door within 10 seconds for Bob when he comes home with a victim. As Bob rapes and murders the women, Rabbit crawls under the kitchen table, crying and covering his ears to the horror that is his new life. When Rabbit does attempt to break out of the house, he is quickly caught by Bob who then chains him to his bed to teach him a lesson.
As years go by, Bob begins to take Rabbit under his wing and starts to teach him the human anatomy and the art of killing. While he grows up, Rabbit is slowly allowed to sit with Bob and is offered a candy bar once in awhile. Bob soon knows the young man will soon have fantasies about girls and so Bob forces Rabbit into picking out a woman for him to rape and murder.
While Chained is not for everyone and at times difficult to watch, the movie is extremely well made and delivers some decent scares. What I enjoyed about Chained is seeing this father/son relationship taking place while this wave of violence is all around them. One can't help but feel sorry for the gaunt and frail Rabbit as he is forced into doing something he wants no part of. When Bob takes him outside for the first time in 10 years, Rabbit sees the taxi cab, remembering that the last time he saw his own mother was inside this cab. Is Rabbit slowly going insane? Can he somehow stop Bob or break free from this madman?
Chained would not have worked if not for the right actors and Vincent D'Onofrio is absolutely amazing as Bob. I have always been a fan of his since Full Metal Jacket. He can play heroes and villains, serial killers and police officers. The man is a true actor, not shying away from dark films or movies that push certain boundaries. He has always been an actor to take risks and by doing so, he has become in my opinion a top notch performer. While Bob is pure evil and a monster, he has a certain charm about him and due to his troubled childhood (touched on only briefly which I would have liked to have seen more of) one can't help but feel sorry for this insane man. Newcomer Famon Farren is also great as Rabbit. His blank stares and wild eyes are enough to give me the chills and yet feel sympathy for what this young man has become.
My biggest complaint regarding Chained is the some what tacked on ending. While it was a strange twist, it didn't work for me and came across as forced. Without giving it away, the very climax almost feels like it belonged on a Lifetime movie...with some blood thrown in.
The blu ray looks and sounds great. Crystal clear in both picture and sound. I loved the deleted scene that caused the film to originally receive an NC-17 (nothing like a good gory throat slash with actually make up effects!) and while the movie has audio commentary by D'Onofrio and director Jennifer Lynch, I was craving for a featurette on the making of this powerful horror/drama.
For fans of dark, disturbing, horror/thrillers or even for fans of good film making and fantastic acting, Chained is a film you need to check out.
[Rating: 4]
Post a Comment