Ruth Platt's brutally intelligent torture-porn flick THE LESSON (UK) had gaggles of audience members literally falling onto the floor as they scampered for the exit doors. Evoking both Michael Haneke's FUNNY GAMES and Lucky McKee's THE WOMAN (2011), Platt's debut feature follows two decidedly delinquent high schoolers that are finally forced to confront their own apathetic and sociapath(et)ic tendencies.
First time actor Evan Bendall gives such a guttural and empathetic performance that I started comparing him to Linda Blair in William Friendkin's THE EXORCiST (1973) and Marilyn Burns in Tobe Hooper's THE Texas CHAiNSAW MASSACRE (1974). The unshakable vision of this gruesome yet stunningly intellectual morality tale should pique the interest of even the most jaded and arrogant horror fans.
Writer-director Ruth Platt is as much of an educator in genre storytelling as the torturer is in her film. Bring your notebook and pencil to take down as many "lessons" as possible, ranging from the themes in Charles Dickens to the archetypal character names in William Golding. Because this master class in literature, cinema, and philosophy is more than just a test, it is here to inspire your life.
Taken from my round up of Sundance 2016 at www.48hill.org
First time actor Evan Bendall gives such a guttural and empathetic performance that I started comparing him to Linda Blair in William Friendkin's THE EXORCiST (1973) and Marilyn Burns in Tobe Hooper's THE Texas CHAiNSAW MASSACRE (1974). The unshakable vision of this gruesome yet stunningly intellectual morality tale should pique the interest of even the most jaded and arrogant horror fans.
Writer-director Ruth Platt is as much of an educator in genre storytelling as the torturer is in her film. Bring your notebook and pencil to take down as many "lessons" as possible, ranging from the themes in Charles Dickens to the archetypal character names in William Golding. Because this master class in literature, cinema, and philosophy is more than just a test, it is here to inspire your life.
Taken from my round up of Sundance 2016 at www.48hill.org