Violation review – a brutal and brilliant debut.
I agree that Madeleine Sims-Fewer gave a remarkable performance, but I don’t agree with the “brilliant” description. This movie sabotaged itself by its own worst tendencies. Too much of it is a disconnected pastiche of genre tropes interspersed with absolutely brilliant moments. I think with a re-edit this film could be improved greatly, though I doubt the lack lies with the editor: I am sure Gabriella Wallace did exactly what the directors asked her to, but it was just not right for this film.
That said, this film does some unique and very disarming things, and it’s worth watching because there aren’t many movies like this one. It’s a dirty little dark star of dread and dismay. Despite the fact that I don’t think the work was completely successful, its brilliant moments combined with Sims-Fewer’s performance make this one to watch for its virtues while ignoring its sins.