"Tormented" is a darkly funny, gory, fun and proudly British horror movie which, in some ways a first for the prolific genre, boldly focuses on the grange hill/skins/twitter audience and introduces the now relevant cyber-bullying craze which is extremely apparent in secondary schools across the UK. Without getting ahead of it's self to much, "Tormented", unlike many other glossed up Hollywood horror's, knows what it is and what it sets out to do. By glancing at the audience around you whilst watching Tormented, you fully take in an array of laughs, screams, and cringing the film obviously sets out to enforce. It isn't a breakthrough for the genre, and neither dose it want it to be-but crucially-this fun rom com issues a bloody good time
.with the odd decapitation along the way. With a simplified storyline which is nevertheless clique, it really lets you enjoy the film so much more and cheer when the bullies get what's coming to them. These guys deserve it. Your not meant to moan when blood splats from that overly large wound-your meant to cringe and chuckle-immerse yourself in this bitter sweet issuement of revenge. And bitter sweet it is-as a fantastic showcase of what make-up and FX can do when it meets a cast of outrageously gorgeous teens in the most gruesome way imaginable plays out. There's loads to like here; the hilarious emo's staring apathetically in admiration over the tragic death of Mullet-competing over who lives the most ignored life
the film club geeks who await the participation of the perfect head girl Justine, whilst adoring the difference between commentary on the Atonement DVD and without it
and the outrageously ignorant staff who darkly overlook the blood shed and bullying around them (one teacher tries to-this made me laugh out loud-explain to a cotton candy sweet teacher that the dead girl lifelessly floating in the schools pool is simply "swimming"!). But more seriously (although, as I said-not to seriously), the theme of bullying plays a pivotal role in the film which is Tormented-as the apparition of the fact that bullying effects all becomes apparent. The bullies slowly cripple, so wound up and ignorant to the pain they've caused to many, and the nerds are stereotypically seen to live with the absurd characteristics of staff and classmates who daily torment and snigger. To me, the most interesting aspect of Tormented is that of Justine..the supposedly perfect prefect. With a clever twist (favourite part of the film), the prefect every once once adored stares in disbelief as she is flung into the backseat of a police car-in realisation that she (although she tragically did not), issued the brutal massacre the audience overviews throughout..(I must point out here the films fabulous soundtrack-with the ghostly closing rhythm of Desert Sessions-Dead in Love playing out over this gleeful climax). "Tormented", however, isn't without it's faults. With an at times slightly corny script which sheers far from realism and what one would expect to see and hear at an ordinary British secondary (being a school boy of the age of 15 going on 16, let me tell you that Fairviews students differentiate heavily from me and my group of buddies at my school!), and at times seems atentivly American. This is a bit of a shame, as the film really could of stood out a lot more had the script undertaken a much more British-school life manor rather then Final Destination high school attitude. The characters have their witty moments of dialogue, but to be brutally honest (and we were asked for honesty!) I found myself cringing sometimes at the wink-wink-nudge nudge attitude in moments of vague and (only rarely), awkwardly delivered bits of dialogue. And some moments stood as just embarrassing (I found myself asking why a very much indie boy with a trendy haircut and skinny jeans issued the lines "What Blad?!" at a DJ after he offends his present girlfriend
I'm sorry but I had to suddenly block my ears!). But apart from this (which is entirely due to the script-the cast obviously appeared slightly awkward delivering lines heavily out of their character and the place they stood in..), the cast deliver solid and realistic performances throughout (especially Dimitri Leonidas and Tuppence Middleton-who I found myself standing next to by outrageous luck the day after at the Shakespere Globe Theatre-I almost fainted after receiving a very nice handshake and convo-thanks so much guys by the way!). I overall throughoutly enjoyed Tormented and it's darkly funny British take on the horror genre, and even after a second viewing (just got back), it never failed to entertain and me make cringe with the guiltily offerings of blood flying from left to right! Funny, scary and serious when it wants to be; "Tormented" isn't just a slasher for the Skins generation-it's a slasher for the proudly TEENAGE generation!!
8.9/10!
(Don't think however that I didn't notice the two film club geeks carrying LOVEFILM.COM DVD's cheeky product placement for you there haha!)
8.9/10!
(Don't think however that I didn't notice the two film club geeks carrying LOVEFILM.COM DVD's cheeky product placement for you there haha!)