Bound To Vengeance
2015
Production Companies: Dark Factory Entertainment & Itaca Films
This is a strange film because even though it's good and it takes a different look at the kidnapping genre, it just doesn't quite work. What the writers give the audience is a journey through the dark side of human trafficking. When Eve's captor comes back to the basement room she's being held in a few days has passed. As he apologises for his late arrival Eve grabs a brick she's worked free and beats the man bloody. While he fights consciousness, she undoes the lock to her chain and chains her captor. She quickly runs through the house and out the front door... She finds she's stranded in the middle of a desert, with no other house in sight. There are no keys in the van parked outside. The phone isn't working. And as she searches the house for food and clothes she finds Polaroids of other girls. When she confronts her captor and threatens to kill him he tells her that she will be killing them too. This then sets the pair on a road trip to free the Polaroid girls.
This opening sequence has some interesting camera shots, for instance, there's the scene where she's pulling the telephone cord trying to find the receiver. It's not until the phone falls onto the floor that you realise the camera is on the phone. There are also a few interesting camera angles which help to create a disturbing and disjointed atmosphere. However, not all of the shots work, but it is nice to see a director trying to do something different. There's also a lot of shaky camera work when it isn't even needed. Most directors use quick cuts along with the shaky camera to build excitement. However, in the scene where Eve has beaten Phil to a bloody mess and he hasn't got the strength to move, Cravioto incorporates this technique... and it doesn't work. It would have been better to slow it down. Have Eve search for the key. Show Phil coming too. Eve still searching. Phil groggy with blood running down his face. Eve pulls the keys from his pocket as he reaches out to grab her hand. Eve shakes his grasp of easily and locks his leg into the chains. But hey, that's just me.
However, not everything goes to plan as the pair go from one girl to another. The inventive thing the writers have done here is to have the story unfold along the way. I will say this, there are some twisted and people along the way. It's also here that some of the elements and characters don't appear or feel realistic.
I think the reason this film doesn't work is that the director and writers were trying too hard to do something new and original and you can tell. A lot of these little things distract the audience from the movie and the story. This isn't good as you want to keep the audience involved and entertained.
As for the acting, both of the major actors are excellent in their portrayal of their characters. Though I do prefer Tyson's coolness in the face of adversity bad guy. He plays Eve just right to stop her from killing him. There maybe a chance to escape and rectify this problem. It's this matter-of-factness which gives the character a chilling feel. The rest of the cast also do a great job though the first girl Eve tries to rescue does appear to be your standard stupid screaming slasher chic... though thinking about it this could have been satire... especially in the way she's dispatched.
If you like films like I Spit On Your Grave then you may enjoy this film. It is worth at least one viewing if you're a revenge fan and the story is different enough to carry you through all the niggling little flaws and issues.
