WAZ

UK/Ireland, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Stellan Skarsgard, Melissa George, Selma Blair, Ashley Walters, Paul Kaye.
Directed by Tom Shankland.

A very well-made film of its kind (not one that appeals to ordinary cinemagoers but of great interest to horror fans) – with some ideas as well as terror. It is a down-market Se7en and an up-market Saw. While it does have some grim corpses and some gruesome torture moments, the makers say that they are not so much interested in the torture as in the experience of pain and the motivation for decisions about saving one’s own life at the expense of the life of a loved one.

The title of the film refers to an equation used by social scientists to measure altruism in animals and human beings, the capacity for self-sacrifice. Characters reflect on the meaning of this theme.

The film is a police investigation in New York City (with some location photography but much of the film made in Belfast with a British cast). Eddie (Stellan Skarsgard) is a grizzled detective who has seen a lot of murder. Westcott (Melissa George) is his partner, new on the beat, courageous but wary and putting up with the sexism in the squad room. When several bodies are found with the equation cut into them, they investigate a scientist which gives them a lead to the killer. The motive is revenge for a horrendous crime by a gang whose members are being executed. Eddie’s contact with one of the members, Danny (Ashley Walters) leads him into a dangerous confrontation with the killer and a testing of his own emotions.

A dark film (much of it taking place at night, on the streets and in ugly basements and apartments), it is a film for those interested in the genre rather than a general audience.

1.A film of horror? Terror? The 1990s and films like Seven? Terror, torture, crime, sin? The 21st century and the torture films like Saw, Captivity, Hostel? This film using some of these techniques? Better? And with some ideas and moral questions?

2.The title, the mathematical formulas, equations for social research, based on fact? The issues of human optimism, human altruism?

3.The visual style, low budget, low definition, the moving camerawork, performances? Light and dark? Space and movement? The musical score?

4.The New York settings, location filming, Belfast standing in for New York?

5.The introduction to Eddie and Helen Westcott, in the precinct, types, partners? The precinct and the sexist attitudes, tough? The new call, discovering the body, the carving in the body, the neighbourhood, being careful, Helen approaching the gang, the risks? The introduction of the theme ‘Waz’?

6.Helen as police woman, young, new, tough, her being wary? The relationship to the other men in the precinct? The visit to Doctor Gelb? Partnering Eddie? Her concern about Eddie, his relationship with Danny? Eddie and his going to visit Danny, the knock on the door, the twin and his death? Calling the ambulance? Helen’s suspicions? The investigations, the interrogations? The plot and development seen from her point of view?

7.The character of Eddie, experience, age, tough, with the bodies, the examinations, at the autopsy, finding Wesley hanging? The other victims? His capacity for detective work? Working with Helen, letting her approach the gang? His relationship with Pierre? Doctor Gelb, the drugs, his dealing, the animals and the experiments, altruism and love, his trying to escape, the shootout? The link with Jean Lerner?

8.Eddie and his visit to Danny, the corpse, the background information about the previous case, the gang, the rape and torture of Jean Lerner, the murder of her mother? Evidence? The brutality of the crime and their participation? Motivation for her revenge?

9.Elly, the crack, Dominic, living in squalor, a character in herself, part of the group, her being taken, the torture with Dominic and his death?

10.Jean and her reasons, using the same principle? Life, experience, Doctor Gelb?, the formula? Her taking the victims, the torture, the issue of love, self-preservation and killing the one one loves? The gangster and the pregnant girl, the twins, Elly and Dominic, Pierre and his grandmother?

11.Her taking Eddie, the reasons for her taking him, his cover-up for Danny? Spoiling the evidence? Giving him the drug, stripping him, the torture, his nails? Danny in the chair? Her taunting him, saying Danny did not love him? Danny telling the truth, Eddie still loving, prepared to die, his throat cut?

12.Danny coming out, Jean giving up? Helen and the group and bringing the case to a close?

13.The sinister aspects, the visuals of the torture, in a context? The sociological and mathematical background? Serial killer, motivations? The film-makers and their declared interest in presenting pain rather than torture?