Feed is directed by Leonard who also brought us cyber-crime flicks The Lawnmower Man and Virtuosity. In Feed, he explores the world of Feeders & Gainers.
Alex O'Loughlin plays Michael Carter, a Feeder who films feeding women online and tracks their vital stats for placing bets as to when they will die. Det. Jackson (Patrick Thompson) finds the website and decides to track down Carter and prove he is a serial killer despite the fact the women are voluntarily fed.
I suppose the film leaves the notion of killing by weight gain up for debate. Both men have valid arguments while neither is truly right. Carter argues that he is helping the women by not judging them and allowing them to take whatever shape they want. He states that the ridiculous ideal woman in America now is an androgynous, hairless, waif that resembles a 13 year old boy. Det. Jackson argues that since the Gainers eventually die, it is murder. We would prosecute someone for starving another person, then why not for over-feeding her?
Another interesting contrast between the two men is their relationships with women. While Carter is perceived as a serial killer and therefore the Bad Guy, he showers the women in his life with attention and love (even the overweight ones). Det. Jackson is very hypocritical in his notion of saving women considering the abusive relationship he has with his skinny girlfriend.
I feel Carter is the perfect villain. He is sweet, handsome, and charming. He is a stranger you would trust talking to on a street. O'Loughlin plays the role well and can effectively sway from debonair to downright creepy.
Now to the gore . I was disgusted in a way by the film. While there are scenes of overeating and food fed by a tube down a throat, these actually did not bother me. In fact, I was amused by the song, "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I've got Love in my tummy" played to a woman being fed multiple burgers. What I was disturbed by were the desperate women who equate food with love. As long as the Gainer is getting food, she is happy. Even when the truth is revealed at the end, the women do not care. They would rather eat and kill themselves, than stop and anger the man they love for fear of being alone.
The ending was perfect. I felt it was going in a certain direction, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a warped variation of the Good Guy wins scenario. All I can say is, Feed Me!
Bottom Line: Not for a weak stomach, but a good morality tale. Leaves room for discussion with friends.
Rating: 7/10
Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com MySpace.com/HorrorYearbook
Alex O'Loughlin plays Michael Carter, a Feeder who films feeding women online and tracks their vital stats for placing bets as to when they will die. Det. Jackson (Patrick Thompson) finds the website and decides to track down Carter and prove he is a serial killer despite the fact the women are voluntarily fed.
I suppose the film leaves the notion of killing by weight gain up for debate. Both men have valid arguments while neither is truly right. Carter argues that he is helping the women by not judging them and allowing them to take whatever shape they want. He states that the ridiculous ideal woman in America now is an androgynous, hairless, waif that resembles a 13 year old boy. Det. Jackson argues that since the Gainers eventually die, it is murder. We would prosecute someone for starving another person, then why not for over-feeding her?
Another interesting contrast between the two men is their relationships with women. While Carter is perceived as a serial killer and therefore the Bad Guy, he showers the women in his life with attention and love (even the overweight ones). Det. Jackson is very hypocritical in his notion of saving women considering the abusive relationship he has with his skinny girlfriend.
I feel Carter is the perfect villain. He is sweet, handsome, and charming. He is a stranger you would trust talking to on a street. O'Loughlin plays the role well and can effectively sway from debonair to downright creepy.
Now to the gore . I was disgusted in a way by the film. While there are scenes of overeating and food fed by a tube down a throat, these actually did not bother me. In fact, I was amused by the song, "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I've got Love in my tummy" played to a woman being fed multiple burgers. What I was disturbed by were the desperate women who equate food with love. As long as the Gainer is getting food, she is happy. Even when the truth is revealed at the end, the women do not care. They would rather eat and kill themselves, than stop and anger the man they love for fear of being alone.
The ending was perfect. I felt it was going in a certain direction, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a warped variation of the Good Guy wins scenario. All I can say is, Feed Me!
Bottom Line: Not for a weak stomach, but a good morality tale. Leaves room for discussion with friends.
Rating: 7/10
Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com MySpace.com/HorrorYearbook