Review of Spun (2000) by Hsienloong L — 09 Jan 2008

Pretty Funny. This film depicts a tragic story about five young people and one adult who are hooked on Crystal Meth. This movie is basically just about their immediate downfall. If you rent this film expecting it to be lighthearted, you messed up.

Ross(Jason Schwartzman) is a speed addict and in the opening sequence of the film he is pulled further into the sleazy drug trade by a wacko named Spider(John Leguizamo), and his little group of freaks.

Ross meets The Cook(Mickey Rourke) who is the one that gets him the meth. he uses it and then forgets about his failed love life with his friend Amy, and also a stripper who he tied to his bed and forgot to release before he went on a drug binge.

The film is effective enough. The users of the drug in this film all stumble, look ugly, are very pale, and have very crackly skin. Meth is portrayed as a demon and the Meth users have been swallowed whole by it.

I thought the movie was fairly well made and gets the point across very well. The main thing that kept me from really loving this movie is that there is a strong lack of character development with the supporting characters.

This is a little bad due to the fact that since there is a lack of understanding of the characters other then the main ones, they are one dimensional creeps who do nothing but vomit, excrete, and exhibit strange and abnormal behavior.

if the film had at least some sympathy with other characters, it could have been a bit better. they are simply not likable and when they plea for mercy when there fates have been sealed you can't really have any hope for them.

the other other minor problem I have with the film is that all it shows is the downside. now you may be wondering what my problem is. It's a drug movie. it's supposed to show that drug use is bad.

that's fine but when you look at another anti-drug film, a perfect yet easy example is Danny Boyle's extremely graphic film TRAINSPOTTING, the viewer needs to notice that they show the appeal of why these people use these drugs.

and while the viewer will be offset that the film may be glamorizing or condoning the use of the drug, a film kind of needs to in order to show what the appeal is and then show why it's bad to use the stuff.

With this film, SPUN, all it shows is pain, misery, stupidity, and unhealthy bodies. You have to wonder why the hell these people are taking this drug if there's no reason to take it. What will happen is the film will show someone about to take the crystal meth, and then once they do the film reel jumps and blows up, the soundtracks screeches, and the user looks to be in a lot of pain.

The film makes the drug look nonaddictive, not fun, and there are no benefits. That's fine with me considering that drugs are bad, and the film wants more than anything to drive that home, but isn't it almost lying to make it look not addictive? having said that, I must say that despite being too willing to be a gross out film, it is well made and quite funny at times.

if you are looking for a film about crystal meth users this film might be one of the only ones out there or at least the easiest to find. If you think you can stomach a lot of weirdness and grossness, I guess that I could recommend it.