Review of The Woman (2011) by Cameron J — 16 Sep 2011

Excitement is my only feeling when I sit down to watch a movie that has created some kind of controversy, in the case of The Woman, a person was escorted out of the Sudance screening for complaining about the violence and misogyny used in the movie. Normally shock value and tons of gore both fail to bother me in the slightest. Though I think I've finally met my match in The Woman.

There is something extremely sinister about the cleek family. They live by patriarchal if not misogynous family values. These values are enforced by the abnormally controlling and the verging on psychotic father Chris (Sean Bridgers) who when hunting spots through his scope, the last of the american feral human and decides to capture her, tie her up and teach her to become civilized. Though his intentions are evil and gruesome, and his family fully anticipates this but does little to avoid the forthcoming afflictions through fear being afflicted themselves. Both female characters are weak, as in they have no personality at all, they just mundanely follow the orders of the head of the house. His son has also picked up certain attitudes and behaviors from his father and so is also engrossed in torturing this woman.

Now to state that this film is a thriller, mystery or a crime based film would be softening what the film actually is, that is - an extremely horrific torture-porn flick. There are so many moments that are so visually frightening and disgusting that it becomes almost unwatchable. There are rape scenes in here also, but it's nothing that graphic (rape scenes never affect me in movies) but it still feels extremely tense and if not a little disturbing. It almost tries to squeeze too much ultra violence into the movie that it forgets it's plot which is a shame because there is so much they could of done with this concept.

Summary: Never have I watched a movie that is as cold and heartless as The Woman.