feed

Just a warning This is a Sick movie not for the weak heart or stomach
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Movie Info

An Australian cyber crime investigator stumbles across one of the internet's darkest mysteries in this thriller that proves even the most outlandish fantasies can come true in the cyberspace era. Phillip is no stranger to debauchery. In his time as an internet investigator, the relatively hot shot cyber cop has stumbled across some pretty repulsive fetishes. Upon learning of a bizarre new world of erotica in which men known as "feeders" seek out morbidly obese women known as "gainers," Phillip is discovers that one particularly exceptional "gainer" has gone missing after topping the scales at 600 pounds. When further investigation reveals that the website was created on Toledo, Ohio, the determined investigator books a flight to the Buckeye state against the wishes of his superior. As a result of his insubordinance, Phillip is fired from his job and forced to continue the investigation on his own watch, and at his own risk. Later, after discovering the horrific true nature of the "feeder" subculture, Phillip finds himself assuming the role of avenger as his sanity plunges into the darkest depths of despair. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

HorrorMovie

Feed (2005) Review

 
Written by: skfan    

    "Feed" is a film that has an original and intriguing premise, that is dragged down by a cliched and tired script and mediocre directing. There is no denying that the film is interesting and entertaining if viewed in the right light, as an exploitation/horror film like it clearly is. I still couldn't help but think about what the film could have been though while watching it, with a worthy script and in the hands of a better filmmaker.

    The idea of "Feed" is original and creative, the actual plot on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired. The film opens with our lead character Phillip Jackson leading a police raid into a private home somewhere in Germany. Phillip is the first into the house and its explained that he was the driving force behind the investigation. Once they break in they discovery two men in a bath tub, the one apparently willingly letting the other eat him alive. This scene of course serves as a reference to the real life events that happened in Germany and its also a very strong start for the film and really is the only intelligent part in the entire film. It turns out that Phillip, who works out of Australia is a cybercrime investigator that specializes in searching through some of the most sick and disturbing sites on the internet for criminals. It isn't a pleasant job and the film tries at least for the first half hour or so to show how Phillip's job has made him a twisted and sick individual in his own right and how his obsession with catching people has ruined his own personal life to the extent that he can't have a sexually healthy relationship with his girlfriend. Thats at least what the film tries to do. What you really get is a lot of rough and violent explicit sex cut together like a music video with numerous electronic and pop songs played underneath. Not that its a completely bad thing either, its just a lower level of art and exploitation and once again you're left thinking of what the film could have been. Meanwhile the film cuts back and forth from Phillips' life in Australia and the villain of the film, half way around the world in America. Our villain is Michael Carter, a man that is running what is called a "Feeders and Gainers" website. Its actually a real term and there are sites like it on the internet that are real. It a relatively new form of what can best be described pornography fetish or extreme chubby chasers. The sites chronicle's the feeding and weight gain of women into the hundreds of pounds. Its something that is really happening, although the outcome of the women are probably slightly different then what happens in this film its still a fascinating subject and to the best of my knowledge "Feed" is the first film to really tackle the issue. "Feeders and Gainers" isn't a crime in its own right but when Phillip comes across the particular site run by Carter he suspects something else might be going on. First off the site is extremely hard to access and when he finally gets into the site he still can't get full access to some pages. Then it seems that every women thats been on the site disappears once they get over six hundred pounds and he believes that they might actually be missing persons. Its about this point in the film were you realize that nothing really new or original will happen in the film besides the general premise and all your left with is a tired old "serial killer on the loose being chased by the seasoned cop" film that we've all seen a hundred times. Of course there is the scene in which Phillip goes to his boss with his suspicions and is told he needs to take a break from his job for awhile. But like any cop that takes his job to serious Phillip doesn't except it and decides to take the law into his own hands and heads to the states in search of the killer. Through some nifty computer work Phillip is able to track down Carter, which leads to some truly stupid encounters where he pretty much taunts Phillip to try and stop him. After all this though Phillip, a trained cop that suspects him of being a killer still manages to be drugged by him and get a nasty injection of fat into his stomach. All this leads up to a rather over the top showdown in a country house between the two men were Carter has his latest "Gainer". 

I won't spoil the movie since I found it at least entertaining but the ending does beg to be talked about. Its the type of ending that could have ruined a better film and it probably still did for some viewers but for me the film had reached such an over the top level by that point that it didn't really matter and I thought it actually fit into at least the last half of the film nicely.

    "Feed" is directed by Brett Leonard that has had his share of commercial studio films with different degrees of success but I think it would be safe to say he is a filmmaker of style over substance. The biggest surprise is that the film doesn't have any of his usual CGI laden effects like he is known for in films like "The Lawnmower Man", "Virtuosity" or "Hideaway" his terrible adaptation of the equally terrible novel by Dean Koontz. Thats not to say that Leonards' signature filmmaking styles aren't still there though. The film is edited and shot almost entirely like a 100 min. music video. At times it works and he should get credit for making the film look a lot better then it should with it's low budget, mostly because of the lighting and color correction of the film. More times then not though it feels over done and unsatisfying to the point that it disengages you from the film.

    Aside from Leonard's obvious short comings as a director the other real problem with the film is the generic script written by Kieran Galvin. Gavin wrote the script from and idea formed by the two lead actors in the film and they probably would have been better off trying to write it themselves. Gavin in her own right has done quiet a few projects both as a writer and director but most if not all of them have dealt with family drama and homosexuality. Its clear that films like "Feed" are not her type of film and in the future she should try and stay clear of more genre based films. She really doesn't bring anything to the film and it feels as if she is trying to second guess what a horror audience might want to see and tries to write it in to the script. Instead what she came out with was a generic and unoriginal script forged from an idea that could have been great.

    Where the filmmaking may have been weak I can't say the same for the acting in the film. Alex O'Loughlin as Micheal Carter is nearly perfect as the twisted villain of the film. O'Loughlin does a great job of never being one dimensional even when his character is. He gives a truly great performance and adds depth that at times is chilling. I really can't say enough about his performance. Patrick Thompson isn't nearly as good as the hardened cop Phillip but its hard to really blame him when he is written so poorly and is put in absolutely stupid situations. Gabby Millgate also gives an entertaining performance as a six hundred plus pound women. Millgate is a fairly large women in her own right but with the fat suit on she really was larger then life.

    The real selling point of the film is the exploitation or gore elements and I have to say that I was actually pretty disappointed. The effects on the "Gainers" was well done and looked somewhat believable (aside from a few close up shots) but there was nothing really disturbing or even all that gross about the effects unless you find it nauseatingly hard to look at a women like Kristie Alley. From other reviews and what I'd read about the film I was expecting to be bombarded with gross out scenes but they were far and few between. I'd also read from numerous sources that eating during the film was not recommended and that it would make you "sick to you stomach". I personally snacked throughout most of the film and besides two relatively "Gross out" scenes there was really nothing worth mentioning in terms of gore.

    Overall I wouldn't consider "Feed" a right off just for it's subject matter alone. That being said don't go in to watch it with the false idea that you'll be seeing something smart or original but if you like a little bit of exploitation or enjoy hearing numerous versions of "Tainted Love" throughout a film then "Feed" is at least worth a rental. 

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