I do not watch horror films anymore (due to PTSD and how horror films trigger horrifying nightmares), but I recently did watch this, and it's images will forever be imbedded in to my mind like no other film or piece of horror fiction since
Uzumaki: Volume 1. This film goes places you just don't expect it to, for that matter, it went places I never thought any film would go. No matter how much you read about this film (I suggest knowing as little as possible), you will still be in for a shock ride in the last 20 minutes of this film.
For all but the last 20 minutes of this film, it is absolutely gore free other than a little bit of blood here and there (the gore that does happen near the end isn't your typical blood gore, think more along the lines of a David Cronenberg body horror film), it plays out more like a teen mystery film for the majority and in its last half goes in to the absurd with its twist and its character's actions, but that fits in with the film. The mystery revolves around the main character Billy whom feels unloved and unwanted by his family and whom has horrifying night terrors where he wakes up with a knife in his hand (this isn't far from my reality). His psychiatrist isn't helpful, and dismisses him regularly on all accounts, especially when a friend (whom also dated his sister and suspects odd things going on in Billy's family) gives Billy a tape which insinuates his sister participated in an orgy and possibly worse, with their parents and many members of society.
The remainder of the film is about his search to discover the truth about his family. Billy is well-loved, he is a star basketball player and looks to become the next class president, but things rapidly start declining as he goes further in the rabbit hole. I very much enjoy the first 1hr+ of the film before it reaches the climax, I can watch that portion and not have the PTSD triggered, it is fun and silly and keeps you guessing as to what is really going on, but when it gets to the reveal its so above and beyond what you expect its almost like watching a completely different movie.
I will only say those last 20minutes even with reading numerous reviews really blew my mind. I have watched well over a couple thousand horror films and I have never been so disturbed, disgusted, and intrigued by any other horror I've seen before, not even Asian horror films. In this society (in this film), people really are butt heads, and nothing is off limits if it makes you feel good, especially when its at the expense of the lower class. You just have to see it to understand, it may not affect you the way it did me, but there is no way you can walk away from this film unaffected in some way by the credits rolling.
God Bless ~Amy
