Sympathy

Sympathy (2007)

Directed By: Andrew Moorman

Review Written By: Horse
Mondo Film & Video Guide Contributor
IMDb.com Link

“Recalling Alfred Hitchcock and Brian De Palma in both style and suspense, first-time director Andrew Moorman has made an extraordinary debut film that is guaranteed to keep even the most jaded viewer on the edge of their seat”

So begins the synopsis from the back cover/press pack and what do you know? – I am among the most jaded viewers you can find. Was I on the edge of my seat? Maybe at some point, but certainly not during the first 40 or so minutes.

This film jumps right into it, it being the hotel room we will not leave once for the next 105 minutes. Not knowing much about this, I just went looking around el interneto for some answers and knowledge, hope this isn’t considered cheating. I see another review mention the whole thing was shot for $6500, even lower than my first guess. But did they get something for the money?

With a cast of 3, Aaron Boucher, Marina Shtlen, Steven Pritchard, and a set of one, this film often times feels like a play. Steven is Trip, who we find out just robbed a bank and grabbed a hostage named Sara (Marina). From the get we are in the hotel room, where Trip uses some “military grade, completely un-pickable” handcuffs to tie her to the bed. Not sure what his master-plan is, but soon he goes out for food or something and returns with trouble. Trouble being escaped convict Dennis. It’s not long before Dennis has the gun and Trip is in cuffs. But, are things really what they seem? Where’s the money from the bank heist? Where did Dennis escape from? What’s the deal with Sara’s stolen car? These and many other questions get answered in the last act, but I’m going to skip out so as not to spoil anything, and I fear the slightest word could spoil much.

Instead, let me focus on the film as a whole. Yeah it starts feeling really cheap, and to be honest, I started to hate Sara early and often. Something about her voice was grinding on my spine the same way babies crying does. Thankfully this was short-lived, and her most annoying parts were over early. For what the filmmakers had to work with, they did a great job. I said before the first 40 minutes or so are boring, and I stand by that. The next hour is fucking great though! It’s a mental cat and mouse game between all 3 players, none of whom likes anyone else. A Highlight is when Sara and Trip are both cuffed to the bed, she goes to work on his “normal cuffs” by biting off his thumb! He’s all pissed and crying, and she’s like “that’s what you get for shooting me” which he did earlier in a more confusing scene. The shooting just didn’t make much sense except for a false scare early. Now I start to see the Hitchcock and De Palma coming through.

The final act did have me on the edge of my seat – when this thing gets going, it’s like a fucking freight train and it’s not gonna slow down. There was a series of twists, some better than others, and one huge mind-bender. I can’t say without spoiling too much, but I hated it, it’s stupid and doesn’t fit and reminded me of Captivity. BTW, I can review the film Captivity in one word: Superreatardedtorturepornshrimpshit! See, shrimps eat shit so their shit would be the shit they ate, like what Jay and Silent Bob were going to do to those Miramax fucks! Print that as it”s own review please Justin! Err, man. Captivity sucked!

Anyway, I have to admit this twist did have me jump forward and say ‘what”, and it kinda worked the first time. It’s looking back on it where I hate it, feel it was cheap and uncalled for, although I guess it had to happen for the end to work.

But I don’t hate the film, at all. In fact, the more I think back the more impressed I am. This crew did so much with so little. While watching I kept thinking, “man, one camera, one room: we could do this”. We probably could, but probably not nearly as effectively. Some good smart dialogue and insane situations mixed with great sound design and crafty editing really make this movie feel so much bigger than it is. It’s not going to re-invent the wheel or anything, but it is a great semi-horror, psychological thriller with one final, great twist at the end. It reminded me lots of Captivity (because of the single hostage, and that one fucking twist) and Bug (psycho-horror in a dingy hotel room). I certainly enjoyed it far more than Captivity, and even more than Bug in the end I think. Not much for gore-hounds or horn-dogs. Just a bit of blood and no titties, but it gets along fine without them. In fact, they probably would’ve been distracting and un-called for.

Bottom line = this is a fine debut film shot for pennies but making gold out of copper. A bit slow and boring at times, but when it gets going it’s better than most shit being called horror these days. Three strong new faces in front of the camera and a few more behind – definitely worth checking out. I really wish that one twist hadn’t have happened though.

Horse is the the newest contributor here at the  Mondo Film & Video Guide.  To find out more about him, please visit our “About Us” section.

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