TRANSGRESSION
There are several directors that pop into your head when you
discuss the "greats" of cinema. It doesn't matter
what kind of movies they made, but they had a certain style
that was all theirs. It is these directors that film students
and young filmmakers look at and emulate. There's nothing wrong
with it, that's how styles are formed. A good example, at least
to me, is the film TRANSGRESSION. Directed by Michael DiPaolo,
TRANSGRESSION is a horror film done as if it were lensed by
John Cassevetes, Dario Argento, Robert Altman and Jean-Luc Goddard
all rolled into one.
The
story is told from the point of view of a young TV news reporter
as she sits on death row preparing to die. She weaves a story
of being sucked in by a strong willed psychiatrist who brings
her into his world of murder, terror and pleasure, against her
will. This, along with dealing with her significant other, a
cop who tells her just to report the stories and not get involved
and a mother, who is more worried about her social status than
her daughter, drive her to what seems like the brink of insanity.
This
is an interesting film to review here in the pages of DRACULINA
because in so many ways it's like nothing that is usually submitted
for review. Easily, this is one of the sharpest, stylish, well
done films this reviewer has seen come out of the underground
in a long time. With the exception of the cheesy "Tales
From the Darkside" like score, the camera is telling us
this story as if we were experiencing it first hand with a documentary
type feel ala Cassevetes mixed with the eerie flush of primary
colors like Argento.
The
acting to top notch and sounds realistic. I assume by the presence
of improvisational theater guru David Shepherd in one scene,
all these people were trained in thinking on their feet and
improving realistic sounding dialogue. It only adds to the creepiness
of the film. The story is rather standard and in less competent
hands would have been uninteresting to watch, but with this
competent group telling it, it thumps along at a pretty good
pace.
Now
for you gore-hounds and tit mongers. There is some brief nudity
that if you blink you might just miss, however the blood flows
pretty free and actually looks good, no plastic novelty blood
spaying knives here.
All
said, this film is as good as anything hitting the video stores
today and I hope it gets good distribution. It's just the intelligent
kind of shot in the ass that the horror genre needs. If you
can find it watch it. You won't be sorry.
Draculina - #19 Spring 1994 - Jay Bliznick
Transgression
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