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DVD Description
This controversial and daring film from director Lynne Stopkewich (Kissed) focuses on the simple, yet complex, life of a woman who yearns for more than her humdrum existence offers. Leila (Molly Parker - Six Feet Under) is bored. Married and working shifts as a clerk in a dilapidated motel, she is secure but unfulfilled. Craving change and excitement, she agrees to meet with a lonely male guest in the privacy of his room. In spite of the reputation she gets amongst the staff, Leila begins a torrid affair with a regular guest. However, his affections soon take on a more sinister aspect and Leila’s dreams become a terrifying nightmare. Featuring a truly outstanding performance from Molly Parker, this powerful and uncompromising film is sure to unnerve and unsettle as it probes deep into the darkest recesses of human nature.
Special Features
- Scene selection
- Original theatrical trailer
- 4-page booklet with Chris Roberts film notes
- World Cinema trailer reel
DVD Technical Information:
- Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic 2.35:1
- 16:9 enhanced for Widescreen TVs
- Running Time: 89 minutes approx.
- Language: English
- PAL
- Disc Format: DVD-5
- Region Code: 0 (All)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Parker's descent,
By strawdog (durham, uk) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Suspicious River [2001] [DVD] (DVD)
Lynne Stopkewich's second film, 'Suspicious River', like her first, 'Kissed', is built around a remarkable performance by the utterly fearless Molly Parker.
Parker's character 'Leila' is a bored, emotionally detached hotel clerk who prostitutes herself to guests passing through the desultory backwater town of Suspicious River. Leila is disconnected from her husband but strikes up a rapport with a young local girl. The two watch a pair of swans on the river, the birds' awaited migration filling them with some dread. Leila is drawn to Gary, a 'client' (chillingly played by Callum Keith Rennie) who alternates between abusiveness and tenderness, therby tightening the sado-erotic knot between them. From then on its a downward spiral as Leila falls prey to Gary's mind games, leading to a disturbing outcome that also reveals the (fairly obvious) link between Leila and the young girl. This is a difficult, subtly sordid film, but rewarding nonetheless if you're not averse to the dark and transgressive. Additionally Parker's coldly impressive performance is unmissable.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Edgy and dark indie drama.,
By
This review is from: Suspicious River [2001] [DVD] (DVD)
This was a fairly decent indie drama/thriller. Molly Parker was up to her usual high standard and the story though often uncomfortable and bleak was completely absorbing. If your a fan of independent film then this is well worth a look, and if you enjoy this check out 'The Sweet Hereafter' which is very similar in tone.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.5 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews) 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great film about a tough subject,
By Margaux Paschke - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Suspicious River [2001] [DVD] (DVD)
This movie by Lynne Stopkewich (whose controversial first film was Kissed) shows off her depth as a director. This film deals with the story of a young woman trapped in a small town repeating the self destructive patterns she learned from her mother as well as not appreciating what you've got until you potentially lose it..... Molly Parker shines as the lead and the secondary characters are good enough, just overlook the low budget feel to this movie to enjoy the compelling storytelling. The film was based on a book of the same title by Laura Kasischke and this movie made me want to go out and buy the book. I highly recommend Suspicious River to those who enjoy gritty independent films.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,
By Jimmie Hammel - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Suspicious River [DVD] [2000] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
This is a subject that isn't usually touched upon in film. The B movie feel reflects the dreary depseration of the life of the main character.
Parker plays Leila, a woman so bored and disillusioned with life that she actively seeks out abuse from stragers. She begins taking money from men for sex, not for the money, but for the degredation. Leila seems determined to make her life as dark and frightening as she can. Her childhood has traumatized her to the point of emotional numbness. Rennie plays Gary Jenson, initially one of Leila's customers who eventually becomes her "boyfriend" and only reveals his true motivations at the end of the film. He manipulates Leila with alternating violence and empty promises. Leila seems to crave the violent lifestyle Gary is offering. The acting is amazing. Rennie and Parker both give perfect performances. A lot of the story is told through facial expressions instead of dialog which Rennie and Parker both pull off superbly. Suspicious River is a dark glimpse into a frightening and dangerous, yet mysteriously seductive world. 10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
SHOWS PROMISE--BUT BEWARE OF SWANS BEARING SYMBOLISM,
By David R. Eastwood - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Suspicious River [DVD] [2001] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
Director Lynne Stopkewich has dealt with a very important topic here: the low self-esteem some women suffer from AND the cruel ways that some men take terrible advantage of such women.
The two lead actors--Molly Parker and Callum Keith Rennie--are excellent in their roles as the abused woman, Leila Murray, and the abuser, Gary Jensen. The rest of the cast manages to be adequate. (By an eerily odd coincidence, two of the minor cast members--Don S. Davis as Golf Shirt Man, and Michael Shanks as Ball Cap Man--both went on to star in the TV series "Stargate SG-1.") Two main problems with this low-budget effort are the production values and the script. Technically, this often looks like a class project for an undergrad course in film making, with the lighting and color being major difficulties. The script is uneven, too, with its heavy-handed parallel subplot and its "happy ending" that is too rushed, sketchy, and implausible. As for the symbolic swans that hang out in the river, they may be just what YOU like, but to me they seemed like one more pretentiously artsy thing that a teacher in Screenplays 101 should have advised the writer(s) to cut out. If you like Molly Parker, watch her in Stopkewich's KISSED and in the HBO-TV series "Deadwood." Both are better vehicles for her talents. |
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