THE TORTURED
US, 2010, 79 minutes. Colour.
Erika Christensen, Jesse Metcalfe, Bill Moseley, Bill Lippincott.
Directed by Robert Lieberman.
The Tortured is a brief film, in the tradition of the torture films of the first decade of the 21st century, some of the slasher films as well as those involving torture. However, this film is different insofar as it is a revenge film. A young couple whose son is abducted and murdered are upset with the sentence given to the criminal and decide to abduct him. The wife is a real estate agent who knows a property where they can take him. The husband is a doctor and has the tools for torture.
While there are some direct scenes of torture, they are not as graphic as films such as the Hostel series. However, the film makes demands on the audience – why it would want to see this, identifying with the characters and their experience, identifying with the characters and their revenge. Erika Christensen appeared in such films as Traffic, Jesse Metcalfe was a star on Desperate Housewives. Bill Moseley, the criminal, has appeared in many horror films.
1. The audience for this kind of film? The portrayal of torture, horror? In a revenge setting? This film different from the mere slasher torture movies?
2. The title, the criminal and his being tortured by the parents, the parents and their being tortured by their grief at their son’s abduction, the boy and his being tortured and killed?
3. The brevity of the film, the structure, Craig on the bridge, concern about his son, the elaborating of the situation, the husband and wife, the police and their work, the discovery of the body, the reaction to the criminal, anger, the trial? The sentence? The variety of flashbacks? The cumulative effect? The couple and their torturing their victim? The irony of the wrong man?
4. The visualising of the crime, the suggestions of horror, the criminal and his impersonating his severe mother, the makeup? His arrest? The sentence? His being transferred to another prison?
5. Craig and Elise, their love for each other, their love for their child? The reaction to their son’s death? The discussions with the police? The sentence, Elise’s anger? The motivation for revenge? The arguments for and against? Elise urging Craig on? The plan, the house, the taking of the vehicle, the timing, the crash, the escape, the injured man? Both men wearing the same overalls?
6. The house, Elise and her real estate knowledge, Craig and his implements?
7. The detail of the torture, the way that it was filmed, paced? The effect on the audience?
8. The friend of the owner of the house, his arrival, the confrontation with Elise, their handling it?
9. The torture of the criminal, his getting loose, his admissions, his note, hanging himself? The wrong man?
10. The escaped criminal, the police and the discovery of the van, the pursuit, the discovery?
11. The effect of the final twist – and the moral about torture decisions, consequences?
12. The effect on younger audiences who are just watching the horror? On adults and parents who watch the film and identify with the characters and the situation?
