Felt is
clearly a film made to inspire a reaction in its viewers, intentionally graphic
and shocking in place of any actual work from the filmmakers. Sometimes these
guttural reactions are enough to make a film memorable, but everything about
this dark mumblecore thriller/drama is derivative to the point of being
completely predictable, despite a minimalist approach to storytelling. The
entire film feels hinged upon one inevitable climactic moment, which doesn’t
feel earned or even appropriate for the rest of the film that director Jason
Banker has given us. Nothing is earned, including the emotions of the audience.
If you don’t develop a screenplay that provides character and story, there is
nothing to become invested in prior to the exploitative final moments.
Thoughtful themes treated lazily end up becoming trashy moments of unearned
melodrama.
A majority of
the film’s lack of focus comes from a nonexistent script. Star Amy Averson is
credited with story along with Banker, but there was no actual dialogue
written. They developed a base structure and then improvised the rest, which is
why most scenes drift aimlessly, dialogue adding little to the overall concept.
The fact that the film is based on the real experiences of Everson makes this
entire endeavor feel more like therapy than entertainment. Perhaps other women
who have been hurt in similar ways will revel in the twisted revenge fantasy of
this single-note story, but it mostly comes off as a sad art project from someone
in need of addressing her past.
The biggest
issue may come from the filmmakers’ unwillingness to show or tell us what is
wrong with our clearly damaged protagonist. Amy (played by Amy Everson, who
clearly wanted very little separation from herself and the character) is acting
strange, closing off from her friends and spending her time in solitude playing
with countless sexual toys and dressing in demented homemade costumes. Without
saying anything outright, the film insinuates with the subtlety of a
sledgehammer that Amy has been sexually assaulted, presumably by her last
boyfriend. This has left her with a room full of penis artwork that she
mutilates for pleasure, when she isn’t dressing in her own costume adorned with
a penis of her own. The rest of the time Amy simply surrounds herself with
other male-hating women, who take every opportunity to act like the superior
sex as they take their aggression out on all men they meet. It doesn’t matter
if they are a good guy or one trying to exploit the women; in this movie there
is no difference. All men are horrible and hurtful, somehow justifying the
erratic and disturbing behavior from the women in the movie.
This may be a
cathartic art exercise for Amy to recover from her negative experience with a
man, but the message is muddled. As a man, I found this film to be horribly
biased and disgustingly void of any real insight. I have never been raped
(which I must assume has happened to Amy despite no dialogue to confirm it),
but the punishment in this film comes nowhere near to fitting the crime. If
only the director had committed to the horror aspects of the story, this may
have come off as a cheap copy of Hard
Candy or Audition, both of which
handle the same themes with actual skill and suspense. Instead, the director simply
appeases the actress at the center of the story, despite nothing being said.
The improvised dialogue is nothing short of obnoxious, the camera work is
shoddy and shaky, and 80 minutes is 60 too long for this material. Felt would have been better as a short
film, preferable one only made to be shown to Everson’s therapist. The end
result feels like art so personal that it was made only to be appreciated by
the filmmakers themselves, and what themes are clear felt like a cry for help
from these filmmakers. I know art is meant to be personal, but it should also
say something worthwhile.
There are no
special features. There should be no film. I rarely recommend films, but I
almost never tell people to avoid movies. I would suggest everyone stay away
from this film at all costs. Those who haven’t been assaulted will find little
to relate to, and any male-hating spectators may revel in the senseless cruelty
towards men as the film shamelessly blames them for all of the wrongdoings and
suffering in the world, but it will only perpetuate bigotry and hatred rather
than actual address any real issues. I found nothing worthwhile that hasn’t
been done better elsewhere.
Entertainment Value:
2.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 1/10
Historical
Significance: 0/10
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