Reel Horror

Feed asin: B000FP2YRM

From the director of THE LAWNMOWER MAN and VIRTUOUSITY comes FEED (2005),
an Australian film, detailing an obsessed Cybercrime detective as he
investigates a pay-per-view website in which women are literally fed to
death.

Despite its recommendation in a recent issue of the Canadian RUE MORGUE
magazine, this film is hardly a horror film, and more a thriller strongly
reminiscent in tone to the 1995 film SE7EN. Themes of excess and
exploitation permeate the film, and we are "treated" to a 600 pound woman
receiving sexual gratification by being overfed and covered in food. Plot
twists add a horror element to the story, and we are given stereotyped
characters: a hero whose base desires, actions and personality rehnder him
despicable, and a villain whose eloquence, intelligence and style make him
a far more palatable choice for the audience. In the end, we are forced to
choose between a righteous character who we dislike and a villain who we
adore.

The film has many strengths. The acting is fairly on par, but the music,
editing cinematography and directing are superior. As with so many horror
films with potential, the major weakness of the film lies in its writing.
Many of the key scenes tend to drag on for minutes longer than they need
to, with very redundant dialog, but this is somewhat alleviated by quicker
transitions which do tend to move the story along. There are a few segments
that bear further explanation (or at least additional viewings, and the
ending is predictable, contrived and even less likely than the rest of the
film. However, the ending, and indeed, the film accomplishes what it sets
out to do: shock the audience.

Overall, a fair watch. The directing and the editing compensate for the
deficiencies in the writing. In short, I would watch this director's next
horror (or at least thriller) title, but I do reservedly recommend FEED, if
for no other reason than to provide a more effective alternative to
SUPERSIZE ME.