Hate Crime (2012)

There are certain films that the hardcore horror crowd will never stop talking about. The Japanese had their Guinea Pig series. America shocked the scene with August Underground films and of course Lucifer Valentine made some awkwardly sick stuff. Serbia gave birth to a special kind of torture porn with Srpski Film and so the ball was in America's court again. This one does not entirely fit in the same category, but the impact feels similar. James Cullen Bressack presents to us: Hate Crime


I can't give anything away. On the other hand, I don't wánt to give anything away. It's really best to go in clean. In this new found footage film four sadistic home intruders hold a typical American family hostage. That's where shit starts pouring and boundaries disappear. A hour long shit load of heavy breathing, crying, screaming, shaking and bleeding. Also, a lot of cursing. Fuck fuck.

It's so hard to describe the impact of the film without giving some examples. What I can say is that this is one of the first times that I actually thought that the found footage gimmick (because that's what it still is) works. Realism is of major importance in Hate Crime and the best way to make it all relatively believable is by keeping the viewer as close as possible to the situation. Close to the bad guys as well as the uncomfortable helplessness of the victims themselves. There's no remorse and there are no exceptions, everyone has to worry for their life at any given point. There's no way you can predict their next move and that's nerve wrecking.

It's one of the many things I liked about it. Not just the continuous shit storm of surprises, it's also the taboo-breaking nature of those surprises that makes it feel rather special. James' talent really shows this time as he planned and directed everything very precisely, giving the actors the time and space they need to give away a heck of a performance. One of the best I've seen in a while, certainly for an Indy flick. It's incredible. I do wonder how desperate they had to be to say yes to such a horrifying concept, no offense haha.

It's all meant positively, of course. It's been a couple of days since I've seen it and I chose not to write anything about it until after I had given it some time. See if it sticks, so to say. And it does. So yeah, this review probably comes down to the same conclusion as it would've earlier. Anywhore, time to shine my light on some more interesting assets. One of the first things that you will notice is how long each shot is, they literally go on for minutes and minutes, with the most uncomfortable stuff going on in them.

In the end there's little to nothing that I can come up with to bitch about. And why would I? Finally something that proves that this 'subgenre' (not really, right) is still alive. It's a shocking home invasion flick with a refreshing approach. We know 'Ils' and we all know the classic 'Last House on the Left'... yet this feels completely different, look-wise as well as the feel of it. Keep an eye out for this one! Definitely a soon to be cult classic.

Score: 95/100