The Flesh People

I think when reading the title of this film the audience is going to come to one of two conclusions. This is either a film about sexual desire or about the gruesome appetite for flesh. The story follows a young failed medical student and a more mature woman who has also had her fair share of failures. A lack of funds leads them down a very macabre and gruesome road. This is very much a horror slash comedy that does not pretend to reflect any kind of reality. It is almost like being in the crazy mind of the main characters and seeing the world through their eyes. This is quite a scary prospect.

This is certainly a weird one and it does not pretend to be anything other than weird. This makes it work to some degree and actually brings about a few laughs. The scene with the eye is the highlight and is particularly fun and may bring about some laugh out loud moments. The combination of understated performance and hammy works quite well between the two main characters. We see Jorge Carrion Alvarez as Ricky who is quite melancholic as he dwells on his failures and the disappointment he has brought his family. Geraldine played by Louise Heller is a middle aged failed actress who continues her performance off stage. The two form an unlikely friendship and they are what holds the film together. They are definitely not people that you’d like to live next door to. They have created their own crazy reality, some of which is no doubt drug induced. The actors make this friendship seem believable and that is a credit to them.

I don’t think the director expects the audience to take this film too seriously. The characters are truly off the wall and the whole premise of the film is quite ridiculous. I think this could have been a truly harrowing story but I feel the idea of bringing a comedic slant works better. The police officers are truly miscast and I hope this was a deliberate choice by the director to bring humour. The set design is very dour and this works really well as the audience observes the characters desperate situation. The apartment is where most of action takes place and it reflects the desperation of the main characters. There is no colour, the rooms are dimly lit or dark and this is a good choice from the director and is very effective. The close up facial scenes are very uncomfortable viewing and my advice would be that popcorn is not an option for viewers. If you get annoyed at the dinner table hearing someone enjoy a hearty meal then this may not be the film for you. It is a close up view of this everyday event placed on loud speaker.

It is always a wonder how writers come up with certain ideas that display such a gruesome and sickening tone. Again some of the more gruesome scenes are dealt with comedically but are able to shock at the same time. This is a clever way of tackling the subject and probably the best option because this could be quite painful viewing. It is clear that the writer, also the director has an interest in horror and certainly has experience directing the genre.

The bizarre ending is a negative and makes little sense and it may leave the audience with many questions. I am not sure there are meant to be any answers because this may be just random actions. Overall this is watchable if you like a mixture of blood, guts and nonsense. It actually kind of works once the viewer gets passed the slow start.