Cruel & Unusual (2014)

Running Time: 95 minutes

Release Date: April 5, 2014 (Taiwan)

Review by: Stacey

 

If you've seen this before you're probably thinking "what the heck, SB, this isn't a horror movie"- and you're totally right, it's not, but the shit these characters had to go through was pretty damn scary.  And I can do whatever the heck I want on my blog. YEAH.  Canadian thriller, Cruel & Unusual, is like a weird mashup of Carnival of Souls and Groundhog Day that takes an interesting turn by the final scene of the film.

 Without giving away too much, Edgar (David Richmond-Peck) finds himself in some type of institution amongst a group of people talking about the murders they've committed.  That's when he finds out that he's being blamed for the murder of his wife, Maylon (Bernadette Saquibal), during an episode of his bleeding ulcers.  Basically forced to re-live that day over and over, Edgar tries to figure out what really happened and if he can, prevent his wife's death.

 

   With a story that seems like it's been done before, Manitoba-born director, Merlin Dervisevic, added a few more twists and turns to keep you wondering who exactly you should be rooting for.  It is a dreary film that garners your sympathy for every character you come across no matter their transgressions.  There's no one to hate in the film, but you understand why they are where they are.  

 

Despite its not very sizeable budget, it was a really well shot film with an exceptional cast of folks.  The slow pace drags you alongside Edgar on his journey through a purgatory he doesn't feel like he deserves to be in, but it's never too slow.  Dramatic in all the right places and just confusing enough to keep you watching every little thing that happens to see if you can catch what, where, and why.

 

Cruel & Unusual almost feels like a cautionary tale to not take the things in your life for granted rather than a simple "don't murder people or you'll end up here forever" story.  That there is still time to change things around for the better, that not everything is as hopeless as it seems.

A great psychological/sci-fi-esque thriller, Cruel & Unusual is definitely worth checking out.

3/5 movies endorsed by Bumpits.

 

Check out the trailer below!