Review of Compulsion (2013) by Lee M — 11 Feb 2016

This isn't as bad a film as people are making it out to be. If you pay attention to the details, there's more here than meets the eye. There are issues, of course, but overall not as bad as many believe.

You have a woman who is obsessed with being a cooking show host. In her mind she is one, constantly practising in her kitchen hearing the audience in response--ala Robert de Niro in the Comedian. Amy is so obsessed by food, it takes over her life and is the basis for everything, especially how she relates to people. The film might have had more depth if the cooking host passion was made more real by Amy, perhaps, stalking an established cooking host. If anything, the film lacked development in key areas, especially the ending. We'll get to that shortly.

Early in the film, Amy discovers that her neighbour is Saffron, an actor from a show she loved as a child. We discover later that Amy has actually loved Saffron since she can remember. Yes, Saffron, the most precious / costly spice know that, according to experts, is "incapable of independent sexual reproduction." How appropriate, as Saffron is certainly in dire straights, but because of her ultimate love, her partner in Amy, she is ultimately able to find full release.

The kicker here is that as Amy attempts to woo Saffron through food, her love and passion and all, Saffron rejects the food, thus rejecting Amy. But Amy's love runs deep, and she does not let this deter her, again and again seeking that mix that will gastronomically set Saffron alight. It is Saffron's dislike for food that came about as a result of her mother's obsession with Saffron's weight, but that is only part of the problem, however, We also discover that as a child Saffron had been raped by Hollywood elite. This is more that gets in the way of Amy's compulsion. But there is nothing that Amy won't do for Saffron, nothing. Even if it's to end Saffron's suffering, permanently.

And here is where we end up. The ending is quite slapped together and wanting, a seemingly major skip between the last and previous scene. In addition, the character of Det Randall is handled rather weakly. His reaction to his discovery that she is the murderer is a bit strained and odd for a "professional detective." But worst of all he simply leaves, and we don't hear from him again.

Not a bad film for one being off the beaten path, but problematic enough to considerably limit full viewer satisfaction and, if I may, release.