35 reviews
Not as shocking as you might be led to believe
- asphodelfilms
- Jul 29, 2006
- Permalink
Strong stuff, but a weak finish
This is not your typical Australian movie, despite its government funding. It could have come from a European art-house director and its location in Melbourne seems incidental (I think the original book by Rupert Thomson was set in Amsterdam). It is also not a movie for the nervous at times it is very tense indeed and the cutting and soundtrack seem designed to keep the audience on edge. As Daniel the male dancer abducted and sexually abused by three hooded women, Tom Long gives an intense, if slightly monolithic, performance. Daniel's lines give him little scope for expressing his feelings, it is only in dance that he can do that, and the rest of the time he acts rather than thinks. On the other hand his physical appearance dominates the film we are seeing essentially his view of things.
The abuse scenes were not as bad as I had feared, and were relatively short. They were pornographic, I think, only to people like the hooded women. And here's the problem. A handsome heterosexual man captured by three young women and forced to have sex with them? No wonder the cops laugh when Daniel tries to tell them what happened. What is it about Daniel that moves them to do this? He was not chosen at random. He's a fit accomplished young male dancer, someone of physical beauty and grace. Why do these women need to humiliate and degrade him? No doubt the director Ana Kokkinos wants us to ask this question but we are not provided with many clues towards an answer. All we are told by the hooded ones is that "it is for our pleasure". Well, if they are sadists, I suppose it makes sense but I don't think it tells us anything about relationships between men and women generally.
Even so, the whole thing is pretty well done, and we do get a very clear picture of the devastating impact abuse of this nature can have on a person. The revelation, I suppose, is Daniel's loss of both innocence and self-regard. Ana Kokkinos proved in "Head On" that she can mix atmosphere and action though this film is quieter overall. Tom Long gets good support from Greta Scacchi, never better, as his dancing mistress, and Colin Friels gives a quiet and convincing portrait of an understanding policeman ( a very rare beast). As Daniel's girlfriend, Anna Torv's performance is curiously flat her character is underwritten and her impassive good looks convey little but emptiness. Deborah Mailman also puts in a good performance in a small role as the girl who helps Daniel recover from his ordeal. But the portentous (or is it pretentious) atmosphere dissolves to a banal ending, almost on the same level as a "Twisted Tale" (a Channel 9 TV series of mordant but slight stories) the motivation for a routine assault is explained.
The screening I saw was sparsely attended and I don't think this film will do well, which is a pity. Ana Kokkinos is a talented filmmaker and it would be interesting to see what she could do with more mainstream material. Art-house Street can be a bit of a cul-de-sac.
The abuse scenes were not as bad as I had feared, and were relatively short. They were pornographic, I think, only to people like the hooded women. And here's the problem. A handsome heterosexual man captured by three young women and forced to have sex with them? No wonder the cops laugh when Daniel tries to tell them what happened. What is it about Daniel that moves them to do this? He was not chosen at random. He's a fit accomplished young male dancer, someone of physical beauty and grace. Why do these women need to humiliate and degrade him? No doubt the director Ana Kokkinos wants us to ask this question but we are not provided with many clues towards an answer. All we are told by the hooded ones is that "it is for our pleasure". Well, if they are sadists, I suppose it makes sense but I don't think it tells us anything about relationships between men and women generally.
Even so, the whole thing is pretty well done, and we do get a very clear picture of the devastating impact abuse of this nature can have on a person. The revelation, I suppose, is Daniel's loss of both innocence and self-regard. Ana Kokkinos proved in "Head On" that she can mix atmosphere and action though this film is quieter overall. Tom Long gets good support from Greta Scacchi, never better, as his dancing mistress, and Colin Friels gives a quiet and convincing portrait of an understanding policeman ( a very rare beast). As Daniel's girlfriend, Anna Torv's performance is curiously flat her character is underwritten and her impassive good looks convey little but emptiness. Deborah Mailman also puts in a good performance in a small role as the girl who helps Daniel recover from his ordeal. But the portentous (or is it pretentious) atmosphere dissolves to a banal ending, almost on the same level as a "Twisted Tale" (a Channel 9 TV series of mordant but slight stories) the motivation for a routine assault is explained.
The screening I saw was sparsely attended and I don't think this film will do well, which is a pity. Ana Kokkinos is a talented filmmaker and it would be interesting to see what she could do with more mainstream material. Art-house Street can be a bit of a cul-de-sac.
A Nutshell Review: The Book of Revelation
You'd be forgiven if you thought that this movie was nothing more than the final chapter of the biblical text. Although itself based on a novel, this is a far cry from doomsday, though for the lead character, his life has been made a living hell for the sheer psychological and physical torture he goes through even after his unfortunate ordeal. And it does provoke some thought into the issues it put on screen, though it doesn't provide any answers, which I suppose in a real world equivalent, it's likely to remain under wraps too, for the shame.
There are many movies out there which deal with and center around the topic of rape. But this would probably mark the first time I've watched a movie where the male lead gets set upon by a gang of three masked females, who for the protection of their identity, prefer to keep their kinky sexual exploits from perhaps each other as well. In fact, their dressing is so well designed, that they have openings for their eyes, and a flap to expose their mouths for the purpose of providing pleasure. And being clothed for the most parts, it prevents the victim from trying to identify any tell-tale signs like tattoos, birthmarks or moles.
Tom Long (no offence, but what a name, really) plays Daniel, a renowned dance practitioner under the tutelage of Isabel (Greta Scacchi). To Isable, Daniel is her star, and she fiercely guards her protégé, up until he decided to go around a corner and buy a packet of cigarettes for his fiancé, that he gets kidnapped, and the production has to rely on a stand-in. Daniel of course returns, but returns as a changed man. Meek, irritable, and with a feeling that he's lost his skills. He becomes obsessed, and we slowly learn why - he's become a victim of a gang rape by an all female trio, who in their own words, just want to see him perform a dance for them privately, failing which the punishment is... rape.
To justify its R21 rating, we're given a full blown account for Daniel's inexplicable disappearance from the normal world he's used to, and now find himself chained to a dark basement like an animal, responding to the whims and fancies of his captors as they take turns to deal with him up his rear. And to a hunky, muscular guy, I suppose this would be a breaking down of resistance, as the power play between the captors and the captive turn psychological, and at times blurring the lines whether Daniel is actually enjoying his current situation.
Wait a minute, who in the right mind would enjoy being in such a situation? Here's where the crux of some of the issues are. Can a man be raped (obviously if against his wishes, yes), and what's with the stigma of having such a stain? Is it hard to imagine the kind of reaction for a guy to make a report and say "Excuse me Mr officer, but I've been raped for days repeatedly by three women wearing masks"? While we can easily understand and sympathize with female victims, could we say and feel the same for a male one, especially one who potentially has the propensity to fight back? Hard to fathom of course, which speaks volumes when the screening I'm in had its fair share of walkouts from amongst the full house audience.
But in a tale of two halves, the other showcases Daniel's struggle to try and rebuild a normal life, but again, with such a traumatizing event that he experienced, it does turn some screws loose, as he begins to suspect and mistrust, just like female victims would, all women whom he encounters and who in his estimates, fit the bill of his kidnappers, for reasons none other than vengeance. I thought the second half was more engaging than its earlier portion as it boiled down to an individual struggle, and with an ending that spoke volumes for the things left unsaid. Not an easy movie to sit through given its pace and storyline, but you do get plenty of discussion topics when you emerge from the theatre.
There are many movies out there which deal with and center around the topic of rape. But this would probably mark the first time I've watched a movie where the male lead gets set upon by a gang of three masked females, who for the protection of their identity, prefer to keep their kinky sexual exploits from perhaps each other as well. In fact, their dressing is so well designed, that they have openings for their eyes, and a flap to expose their mouths for the purpose of providing pleasure. And being clothed for the most parts, it prevents the victim from trying to identify any tell-tale signs like tattoos, birthmarks or moles.
Tom Long (no offence, but what a name, really) plays Daniel, a renowned dance practitioner under the tutelage of Isabel (Greta Scacchi). To Isable, Daniel is her star, and she fiercely guards her protégé, up until he decided to go around a corner and buy a packet of cigarettes for his fiancé, that he gets kidnapped, and the production has to rely on a stand-in. Daniel of course returns, but returns as a changed man. Meek, irritable, and with a feeling that he's lost his skills. He becomes obsessed, and we slowly learn why - he's become a victim of a gang rape by an all female trio, who in their own words, just want to see him perform a dance for them privately, failing which the punishment is... rape.
To justify its R21 rating, we're given a full blown account for Daniel's inexplicable disappearance from the normal world he's used to, and now find himself chained to a dark basement like an animal, responding to the whims and fancies of his captors as they take turns to deal with him up his rear. And to a hunky, muscular guy, I suppose this would be a breaking down of resistance, as the power play between the captors and the captive turn psychological, and at times blurring the lines whether Daniel is actually enjoying his current situation.
Wait a minute, who in the right mind would enjoy being in such a situation? Here's where the crux of some of the issues are. Can a man be raped (obviously if against his wishes, yes), and what's with the stigma of having such a stain? Is it hard to imagine the kind of reaction for a guy to make a report and say "Excuse me Mr officer, but I've been raped for days repeatedly by three women wearing masks"? While we can easily understand and sympathize with female victims, could we say and feel the same for a male one, especially one who potentially has the propensity to fight back? Hard to fathom of course, which speaks volumes when the screening I'm in had its fair share of walkouts from amongst the full house audience.
But in a tale of two halves, the other showcases Daniel's struggle to try and rebuild a normal life, but again, with such a traumatizing event that he experienced, it does turn some screws loose, as he begins to suspect and mistrust, just like female victims would, all women whom he encounters and who in his estimates, fit the bill of his kidnappers, for reasons none other than vengeance. I thought the second half was more engaging than its earlier portion as it boiled down to an individual struggle, and with an ending that spoke volumes for the things left unsaid. Not an easy movie to sit through given its pace and storyline, but you do get plenty of discussion topics when you emerge from the theatre.
- DICK STEEL
- Jul 26, 2008
- Permalink
Interesting idea, poorly written, muddled execution.
Many questions arise about the making of this film. The first of which is: Why make a film that plays out as little more than an awkward female fantasy? It's one thing to leave an audience with issues to discuss about a film's intent, it's something entirely different to go into the process of writing a script which fails to adequately address real human issues before they are rendered on the screen.
Why the outrageously melodramatic and often comical soundtrack? Why the excessive and frequently clunky dialogue? Why is the lead character's girlfriend one of the hooded abductors? What purpose is there to turning the lead character's freedom from abduction into a joke by having him complete his "mission"? (This is a classic Little Aussie Film moment. Resort to quirky comedy at the most inappropriate moment.) Why so many scenes where absolutely nothing happens? (This accounts for approximately 15 minutes of the film, which is at least 30 minutes too long.) Why, if a man is imprisoned for so many days, does he not endeavor to make a serious attempt at escape?
The Director, who co-wrote the script, has failed on many counts to deliver a satisfactory story.
Dave Garver, Australia.
Why the outrageously melodramatic and often comical soundtrack? Why the excessive and frequently clunky dialogue? Why is the lead character's girlfriend one of the hooded abductors? What purpose is there to turning the lead character's freedom from abduction into a joke by having him complete his "mission"? (This is a classic Little Aussie Film moment. Resort to quirky comedy at the most inappropriate moment.) Why so many scenes where absolutely nothing happens? (This accounts for approximately 15 minutes of the film, which is at least 30 minutes too long.) Why, if a man is imprisoned for so many days, does he not endeavor to make a serious attempt at escape?
The Director, who co-wrote the script, has failed on many counts to deliver a satisfactory story.
Dave Garver, Australia.
- garver_dave
- Sep 24, 2006
- Permalink
Revelations and Nightmares
- j-thompson4-1
- Sep 16, 2006
- Permalink
Interesting (and shocking) gender-reversal
This film needed more cow bell.
- timkelly1986
- Sep 5, 2006
- Permalink
An insight into coping
This film is stunning.
Well it certainly stunned me - I can not believe that someone made another Australian film that's even more boring than Somersault. The story is implausible, the characters, with the exception of Friels' and Mailman's characters, are unlikeable and wooden, Tom Long possesses a VAST array of facial expressions: happy and not happy, and the "sex scenes", which could have been very confronting and disturbingly erotic, would have been at home in a low-budget porno flick.
This is the first movie I have seen in 30 years of cinema-going that has had me on the edge of my seat....ready to get up and leave.
The best thing about this movie is the promotional poster.
This is the first movie I have seen in 30 years of cinema-going that has had me on the edge of my seat....ready to get up and leave.
The best thing about this movie is the promotional poster.
An unsuccessful Michael Haneke like movie
"The book of revelation" is one of those films that make you feel you had a great loss. It has a very interesting & original story, the right mood and some brilliant actors. However, one can not escape the feeling that something went completely wrong with the entire piece.
The film tells the bizarre story of Daniel, a dancer that's been kidnapped by 3 women and has been sexually abused by them for 12 days. well, I must say that for some men this is a dream rather than a nightmare... but on the serious side, I was quite disappointed by the kidnappers and the director, Ana Kokinnos. because as long as I remember, they were trying to make a thriller here, so where's the thrill?? the abusement scenes are not that terrible, but much more on the erotic side, what makes this film look as a cheap sexploitation based movie. Sexual provocacy was probably much more important for the director than a real delve into the humiliated man position thing. That goes for both male and female characters and scenes. I am not against nudity, but a film like that has got to have another dimension to it, except the sexual and kinky one, and this dimension lacks from the entire movie. plus, add the very expressionist lighting and photography, and the result is just another artsy fartsy film that has the appeal of a more serious one.
We don't really know anything about Daniel. when I think about the movie now, I dare to ask: was this all a dream? what about his relationship with one of the dancers from the group? they live together, but are they married? did he have a romantic or sexual relationship with his dancing coach, the beautiful and mature Isabelle? was he suffering a mental disorder prior to the kidnapping? we don't have answers to these questions in the film. you could say it's OK, and in a way it is OK, but not really...
But not everything is wrong here. actor Tom Long gives a monumental performance, both as a dancer and the tormented Daniel, who tries to reveal the identity of his lady kidnappers, and to restore his own mental life. and of course the wonderful Greta Scacchi, in a great supporting role.
To sum things up: if you're looking for a good thriller for your weekly DVD night, get something else. if you've already taken this film be prepared for some hot nudity, expressionist misery and mental torment scenes, fake provocacy and an unsuccessful attempt to create a Michael Haneke like thriller, where the hero is not the mystery itself, but the main character's way to deal with what happened to him. and believe me, there are better films than this one. for instance, "Cache", by the original Haneke himself, or "Swimming pool", by Francois Ozon.
The film tells the bizarre story of Daniel, a dancer that's been kidnapped by 3 women and has been sexually abused by them for 12 days. well, I must say that for some men this is a dream rather than a nightmare... but on the serious side, I was quite disappointed by the kidnappers and the director, Ana Kokinnos. because as long as I remember, they were trying to make a thriller here, so where's the thrill?? the abusement scenes are not that terrible, but much more on the erotic side, what makes this film look as a cheap sexploitation based movie. Sexual provocacy was probably much more important for the director than a real delve into the humiliated man position thing. That goes for both male and female characters and scenes. I am not against nudity, but a film like that has got to have another dimension to it, except the sexual and kinky one, and this dimension lacks from the entire movie. plus, add the very expressionist lighting and photography, and the result is just another artsy fartsy film that has the appeal of a more serious one.
We don't really know anything about Daniel. when I think about the movie now, I dare to ask: was this all a dream? what about his relationship with one of the dancers from the group? they live together, but are they married? did he have a romantic or sexual relationship with his dancing coach, the beautiful and mature Isabelle? was he suffering a mental disorder prior to the kidnapping? we don't have answers to these questions in the film. you could say it's OK, and in a way it is OK, but not really...
But not everything is wrong here. actor Tom Long gives a monumental performance, both as a dancer and the tormented Daniel, who tries to reveal the identity of his lady kidnappers, and to restore his own mental life. and of course the wonderful Greta Scacchi, in a great supporting role.
To sum things up: if you're looking for a good thriller for your weekly DVD night, get something else. if you've already taken this film be prepared for some hot nudity, expressionist misery and mental torment scenes, fake provocacy and an unsuccessful attempt to create a Michael Haneke like thriller, where the hero is not the mystery itself, but the main character's way to deal with what happened to him. and believe me, there are better films than this one. for instance, "Cache", by the original Haneke himself, or "Swimming pool", by Francois Ozon.
- David_Moran
- Jul 23, 2007
- Permalink
Promising Beginning That Becomes a Sort of Erotic Soap-Opera.
While walking to buy cigarettes, the professional dancer Daniel (Tom Long) is abducted and forced to have kinky sex along many days by three hooded women. When he is released, the director of his company Isabel (Greta Scacchi) has already replaced him in the play and his girlfriend gives a cold reception to him. The disturbed and humiliated Daniel leaves the dance company and travels obsessed to seek out the abductors. Daniel has sex with many women that he suspects that might be the kidnappers.
"The Book of Revelation" is a weird movie with a promising beginning that loses the initial power and becomes a sort of too long erotic soap- opera or soft-porn chic. The production is classy, the cover of the DVD is awesome but the characters are not well-developed and the trauma of Daniel seems to be excessive since most of the men would fantasize with the dream-situation that he was submitted – to become sexual object of three sexy women. The melodramatic development with the illness of Isabel does not add any value to the plot; the open conclusion is very disappointing and there are no explanations for the motive of the women or the title. It is very clear that the screenplay about a man's feelings was written by a woman. It was good to see the still beautiful Greta Scacchi again and her make-up in the end is impressive. There is a saying in Portuguese that could be translated to English as follows: "If the rape is inevitable, relax and come." Daniel should have done this and spared me of watching almost two hours of a pointless story. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "O Livro das Revelações" ("The Book of Revelations")
"The Book of Revelation" is a weird movie with a promising beginning that loses the initial power and becomes a sort of too long erotic soap- opera or soft-porn chic. The production is classy, the cover of the DVD is awesome but the characters are not well-developed and the trauma of Daniel seems to be excessive since most of the men would fantasize with the dream-situation that he was submitted – to become sexual object of three sexy women. The melodramatic development with the illness of Isabel does not add any value to the plot; the open conclusion is very disappointing and there are no explanations for the motive of the women or the title. It is very clear that the screenplay about a man's feelings was written by a woman. It was good to see the still beautiful Greta Scacchi again and her make-up in the end is impressive. There is a saying in Portuguese that could be translated to English as follows: "If the rape is inevitable, relax and come." Daniel should have done this and spared me of watching almost two hours of a pointless story. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "O Livro das Revelações" ("The Book of Revelations")
- claudio_carvalho
- Jul 2, 2009
- Permalink
Tough to sit through but so much to think and talk about afterward!
Well they said it was more about being thought provoking than being a box office hit and they were right. The Book of Revelation was incredibly hard to sit through - both because of its slow pace and its confronting themes - but so very worthwhile.
Beautifully crafted, the movie is not for everyone, especially if you've been the victim of sexual abuse.
The movie sets out to explore a range of issues and themes and it wasn't until the day after I saw it (today) that many of them dawned on me (and even then it was only prompted by reading an interview with the Director, Ana Kokkinos). I suspect that I'll be experiencing more of these revelations (pun intended) for quite some time.
One of the themes of "The Book of Revelation" is sex and power. There are some very confronting and disturbing scenes where the male lead is sexually abused by three cloaked and masked women. One of my female friends who I saw the movie with said afterward that she didn't feel any of the discomfort she usually feels when she sees a rape scene on the screen and wondered if it was purely because it was a man being raped. This is one of those areas that the movie gets you thinking about.
It's hard to watch but I highly recommend seeing it.
Beautifully crafted, the movie is not for everyone, especially if you've been the victim of sexual abuse.
The movie sets out to explore a range of issues and themes and it wasn't until the day after I saw it (today) that many of them dawned on me (and even then it was only prompted by reading an interview with the Director, Ana Kokkinos). I suspect that I'll be experiencing more of these revelations (pun intended) for quite some time.
One of the themes of "The Book of Revelation" is sex and power. There are some very confronting and disturbing scenes where the male lead is sexually abused by three cloaked and masked women. One of my female friends who I saw the movie with said afterward that she didn't feel any of the discomfort she usually feels when she sees a rape scene on the screen and wondered if it was purely because it was a man being raped. This is one of those areas that the movie gets you thinking about.
It's hard to watch but I highly recommend seeing it.
- scottybrady
- Jul 29, 2006
- Permalink
Mmmm... We agreed to disagree, and therein lies the interest.
The Book of Revalation: Viewed at MIFF:
Of the many films attended by 'screen partner' and m'self at MIFF this year, 'Like Minds' and 'TBOR' were the standouts.
Tom Long really does give the performance I always hoped he'd be capable of, applause to AK for casting both he and Greta Scacchi. Whilst I have an aversion to those who seem to insist upon using such terms as 'brave' and ' courageous' to describe performances (PLEASE folks: Turning up to a film shoot risks only ego... saving a drowning swimmer in a rip-tide is brave), there are challenges afoot for all concerned in the making and viewing of this film.
The diverse opinions you've no doubt read here so far confirm our experience... A film that begs discussion over coffee, or a drink!
Go-Ana, I had my serious reservations,but then you knew your audience would!
Of the many films attended by 'screen partner' and m'self at MIFF this year, 'Like Minds' and 'TBOR' were the standouts.
Tom Long really does give the performance I always hoped he'd be capable of, applause to AK for casting both he and Greta Scacchi. Whilst I have an aversion to those who seem to insist upon using such terms as 'brave' and ' courageous' to describe performances (PLEASE folks: Turning up to a film shoot risks only ego... saving a drowning swimmer in a rip-tide is brave), there are challenges afoot for all concerned in the making and viewing of this film.
The diverse opinions you've no doubt read here so far confirm our experience... A film that begs discussion over coffee, or a drink!
Go-Ana, I had my serious reservations,but then you knew your audience would!
Don't bother
Book of Revelations starts very well. Daniel, an egomaniac dancer is kidnapped, abused and sexually raped by three masked women.
After that, nothing else really happens. There is some hint of rediscovery but the movie gives nor explanation nor a real ending. Daniel reactions after the abuse are very basic. He quits dancing, has sex with every women around and finally starting a relation with very simple and common woman.
I have seen a good share of art-house movies but this has something missing in it.
The main leads are fine; but some characters does not seems to be completely defined.
After that, nothing else really happens. There is some hint of rediscovery but the movie gives nor explanation nor a real ending. Daniel reactions after the abuse are very basic. He quits dancing, has sex with every women around and finally starting a relation with very simple and common woman.
I have seen a good share of art-house movies but this has something missing in it.
The main leads are fine; but some characters does not seems to be completely defined.
Disappointed
A promising start, but then some cheap porn and a puff of smoke.
An unusual slant on a rape theme
- raymond-106
- Mar 25, 2010
- Permalink
Unrevealing Book
Directed by a woman and is a fascinating character study
(2006) The Book of Revelation
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER CRIME DRAMA
Adapted from the book by Rupert Thomson co-written and directed by Ana Kokkinos that introduces viewers to a couple, Daniel (Tom Long) and Bridget (Anna Torv) in a dance studio along with others, rehearsing their moves to the upcoming performance, with Isabel as the director. Bridget asks Daniel to go out and grab her a pack of smokes, and when he does, he does not come back. She would involve the police, except that they have a 72 hour protocol that needed to be followed before they will actively go and search for him. It is the big night, and Daniel has still have not shown up with Isabel making the conscious choice of replacing Daniel's lead role with another former dancer, Justin. The following morning, Daniel blindfolded with a hood, he is then dropped and dumped by a GMC Vandura in the middle of nowhere. He then takes off the bag that was covering his head, and spots a bar nearby, he goes to it to get himself a beer. Unable to adapt to normalcy, his live in girlfriend, Bridget becomes skeptical about his last whereabouts when he tells her he was abducted by three women. They had done this by approaching him with their heads covered and pricking him with a needle. And upon his release he then tries to make a report about it to authorities, but even they begin taunting him as well. As a result of people who are insensitive to his current situation, he then packs up his stuff and leaves his girlfriend, Bridget to work at a pub near the waterfront for the purpose of identifying the three women who physically abused and humiliated him. From the time he was let go to the time he went searching for the three women who chained him up doing weird things to him, viewers see in flashbacks some of the things the three women had done to him, and do these acts while wearing pigeon holed masks. Leaving with the only clues are their nude bodies as each one of the three ladies have distinct marks on such as a butterfly on one, the other has a huge red blemish or birthmark on the right side of her cheeks of her buttocks, while the third has a round circle over her breast. Daniel then goes on a crusade eager to find out what the three ladies actually look like, which at first, as soon as he sees three ladies enter the bar, the first thing he thinks about is they must be the same three who abducted him. And he becomes disappointed that it was not them. And of course, Isabel (Greta Scacchi) wants Daniel to return back to dancing again, except that he is disturbed and disoriented. Instead of asking her former friend, Mark Olsen (Colin Friels) with his expertise to find out the three ladies who abducted him, all he does is report back to Isabel about Daniels whereabouts.
What I like about this movie is that it takes it's subject matter and makes it into thinking movie. Since if anyone were to at the census or even watch the news and so forth- it is always men abductors. And when they're women abductors, it usually occurs toward babies or on young children. In this scenario, is perhaps the most unlikely scenario with three different women involve in kidnapping a young man so that they can perform unspeakable acts on him. What makes it much worse is that the victim has no way of knowing what each of them even look like. My quip with this film is the fact one veteran detective looked like was willing to help him, except that Daniel has never asked him, since he was never believed when he went to the police station. Here was one detective or officer who does! That is perhaps the million dollar question, why didn't Isabel ask her former boyfriend to get involve, and throughout the entire film he never does other than to be his therapist. That alone does not make much sense.
Adapted from the book by Rupert Thomson co-written and directed by Ana Kokkinos that introduces viewers to a couple, Daniel (Tom Long) and Bridget (Anna Torv) in a dance studio along with others, rehearsing their moves to the upcoming performance, with Isabel as the director. Bridget asks Daniel to go out and grab her a pack of smokes, and when he does, he does not come back. She would involve the police, except that they have a 72 hour protocol that needed to be followed before they will actively go and search for him. It is the big night, and Daniel has still have not shown up with Isabel making the conscious choice of replacing Daniel's lead role with another former dancer, Justin. The following morning, Daniel blindfolded with a hood, he is then dropped and dumped by a GMC Vandura in the middle of nowhere. He then takes off the bag that was covering his head, and spots a bar nearby, he goes to it to get himself a beer. Unable to adapt to normalcy, his live in girlfriend, Bridget becomes skeptical about his last whereabouts when he tells her he was abducted by three women. They had done this by approaching him with their heads covered and pricking him with a needle. And upon his release he then tries to make a report about it to authorities, but even they begin taunting him as well. As a result of people who are insensitive to his current situation, he then packs up his stuff and leaves his girlfriend, Bridget to work at a pub near the waterfront for the purpose of identifying the three women who physically abused and humiliated him. From the time he was let go to the time he went searching for the three women who chained him up doing weird things to him, viewers see in flashbacks some of the things the three women had done to him, and do these acts while wearing pigeon holed masks. Leaving with the only clues are their nude bodies as each one of the three ladies have distinct marks on such as a butterfly on one, the other has a huge red blemish or birthmark on the right side of her cheeks of her buttocks, while the third has a round circle over her breast. Daniel then goes on a crusade eager to find out what the three ladies actually look like, which at first, as soon as he sees three ladies enter the bar, the first thing he thinks about is they must be the same three who abducted him. And he becomes disappointed that it was not them. And of course, Isabel (Greta Scacchi) wants Daniel to return back to dancing again, except that he is disturbed and disoriented. Instead of asking her former friend, Mark Olsen (Colin Friels) with his expertise to find out the three ladies who abducted him, all he does is report back to Isabel about Daniels whereabouts.
What I like about this movie is that it takes it's subject matter and makes it into thinking movie. Since if anyone were to at the census or even watch the news and so forth- it is always men abductors. And when they're women abductors, it usually occurs toward babies or on young children. In this scenario, is perhaps the most unlikely scenario with three different women involve in kidnapping a young man so that they can perform unspeakable acts on him. What makes it much worse is that the victim has no way of knowing what each of them even look like. My quip with this film is the fact one veteran detective looked like was willing to help him, except that Daniel has never asked him, since he was never believed when he went to the police station. Here was one detective or officer who does! That is perhaps the million dollar question, why didn't Isabel ask her former boyfriend to get involve, and throughout the entire film he never does other than to be his therapist. That alone does not make much sense.
- jordondave-28085
- Dec 2, 2023
- Permalink
A unoriginal and pseudo literary distaff take on Pauline Reage's 'Story of O'
Anna Kokkinos' success with' Head On' now begins to look like it depended totally on the script and Alex Dimitriades great lead performance. The degree to which this latest, "The Book of Revelation" is both derivative , pretentious and utterly unoriginal ( except for Tristan Milani's fine cinematography) seems to bear this out. .
Alas, there have already been quite a few Aussie movies dealing with such themes , some reviled for 'sexism' (and/or explicit sex scenes) in the 1970s and 1980s and beyond and maybe they're worth looking at again after this piece of fluff. Of course, setting the whole thing in the world of ballet and making it all achingly slow (and in its choreography, like a 1960s Dutch Ballet experimental number) does suggest Great Art if you've not traveled around much-and then only if you never progressed beyond Art Theory 101.
Add to the pretension, appallingly arch dialog ( "you will do as we command...") and the whole shebang falls onto its well funded face. Then there are the 'sexy' bits : straight from Dario Argento.
Given the lovely but truncated performance by Colin Friels - how about a real city primeval thriller ?
All in, all ,with 'The Book of Revelation' , the feminist project has been set back yet another decade - and with the willing and deeply imitative (of male writers like Henry Miller, William Burroughs, even Bukowski) collaboration of some collective in Melbourne, Oz, suffering from a form of educational -and ideological- amnesia! No revelations await us here.
Alas, there have already been quite a few Aussie movies dealing with such themes , some reviled for 'sexism' (and/or explicit sex scenes) in the 1970s and 1980s and beyond and maybe they're worth looking at again after this piece of fluff. Of course, setting the whole thing in the world of ballet and making it all achingly slow (and in its choreography, like a 1960s Dutch Ballet experimental number) does suggest Great Art if you've not traveled around much-and then only if you never progressed beyond Art Theory 101.
Add to the pretension, appallingly arch dialog ( "you will do as we command...") and the whole shebang falls onto its well funded face. Then there are the 'sexy' bits : straight from Dario Argento.
Given the lovely but truncated performance by Colin Friels - how about a real city primeval thriller ?
All in, all ,with 'The Book of Revelation' , the feminist project has been set back yet another decade - and with the willing and deeply imitative (of male writers like Henry Miller, William Burroughs, even Bukowski) collaboration of some collective in Melbourne, Oz, suffering from a form of educational -and ideological- amnesia! No revelations await us here.
Women Torture.
Well, we are all used to watching torture flicks where men torture women; MARTYRS, GUINEA PIG, AUGUST UNDERGROUND etc... Now how about we turn the tables around and have the women torture the man? Nice idea, but this movie has a few problems.
First off, this movie is pretty tame compared to the other Torture flicks, but that does not matter. What matter is that the movie really drags at the end, it seems so forced and out of place. When the torture scenes ended, i just stopped caring, because that was the point of the whole movie; why and how did these 3 women torture our hero?
This movie deals with a lot of themes: Paranoia, Trauma, Anxiety, Fear and such... And i can say that the movie for the most part is solid. However, after all the torture scenes ended, the movie just feels so forced, the movie didn't really have to be nearly 2 hours long. I am sure they could of made it shorter like 1 hour 30 minutes long and it would of been better.
Ultimately i can sort of recommend this movie, it is better then Guinea Pig, and August Underground (Since this movie actually has a plot), but it's not as good as Martyrs or Hostel.
Well, we are all used to watching torture flicks where men torture women; MARTYRS, GUINEA PIG, AUGUST UNDERGROUND, etc... Now how about we turn the tables around and have the women torture the man? Nice idea, but this movie has a few problems.
First off, this movie is pretty tame compared to the other Torture flicks, but that does not matter. What matter is that the movie really drags at the end, it seems so forced and out of place. When the torture scenes ended, I just stopped caring, because that was the point of the whole movie; why and how did these 3 women torture our hero?
This movie deals with a lot of themes: Paranoia, Trauma, Anxiety, Fear, and such... And i can say that the movie for the most part is solid. However, after all the torture scenes ended, the movie just feels so forced, the movie didn't really have to be nearly 2 hours long. I am sure they could of made it shorter like 1 hour 30 minutes long and it would of been better.
Ultimately i can sort of recommend this movie, it is better than Guinea Pig, and August Underground (Since this movie actually has a plot), but it's not as good as Martyrs or Hostel.
I just wish that they made a movie in that we see the past and future in the start and that in the end, we see the torture, I think that would be way more impactful than what we just had. (That's just my opinion). Just like how in Martyrs, the last scenes are the torture scenes of Anna, which is what makes the movie have such an impact.
First off, this movie is pretty tame compared to the other Torture flicks, but that does not matter. What matter is that the movie really drags at the end, it seems so forced and out of place. When the torture scenes ended, i just stopped caring, because that was the point of the whole movie; why and how did these 3 women torture our hero?
This movie deals with a lot of themes: Paranoia, Trauma, Anxiety, Fear and such... And i can say that the movie for the most part is solid. However, after all the torture scenes ended, the movie just feels so forced, the movie didn't really have to be nearly 2 hours long. I am sure they could of made it shorter like 1 hour 30 minutes long and it would of been better.
Ultimately i can sort of recommend this movie, it is better then Guinea Pig, and August Underground (Since this movie actually has a plot), but it's not as good as Martyrs or Hostel.
Well, we are all used to watching torture flicks where men torture women; MARTYRS, GUINEA PIG, AUGUST UNDERGROUND, etc... Now how about we turn the tables around and have the women torture the man? Nice idea, but this movie has a few problems.
First off, this movie is pretty tame compared to the other Torture flicks, but that does not matter. What matter is that the movie really drags at the end, it seems so forced and out of place. When the torture scenes ended, I just stopped caring, because that was the point of the whole movie; why and how did these 3 women torture our hero?
This movie deals with a lot of themes: Paranoia, Trauma, Anxiety, Fear, and such... And i can say that the movie for the most part is solid. However, after all the torture scenes ended, the movie just feels so forced, the movie didn't really have to be nearly 2 hours long. I am sure they could of made it shorter like 1 hour 30 minutes long and it would of been better.
Ultimately i can sort of recommend this movie, it is better than Guinea Pig, and August Underground (Since this movie actually has a plot), but it's not as good as Martyrs or Hostel.
I just wish that they made a movie in that we see the past and future in the start and that in the end, we see the torture, I think that would be way more impactful than what we just had. (That's just my opinion). Just like how in Martyrs, the last scenes are the torture scenes of Anna, which is what makes the movie have such an impact.
- DarkSpotOn
- May 9, 2023
- Permalink
The title was the best part of the movie
- real_hiflyer
- Dec 6, 2007
- Permalink
This film left me thinking, confused, but entertained and challenged.
This is a film that comes along every once in a while, and you have no idea if you like it or not. After attending the world premiere as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival, I left the cinema feeling numb and in a desperate state of trying to figure out how I felt about the film. I am still no more enlightened, and this is a credit to Ana, who challenges and questions her audience as much as she does her characters.
The film will not please all. It contains full-on nudity and sex scenes, but in the end I felt that they were all appropriate and relevant to the story. In addition, if you are after a well-rounded thriller with a clear beginning, middle and end, you will probably be disappointed.
What this film is, though, is a stunning portrait of a man who is broken down and humiliated, whose life is thrown into disarray for the pleasure of others. Ana has created a stark, honest film, and Tom Long brings an incredibly withheld brevity and aura to the role. His emotions are so internalized and conflicting that the finale to the film seems all the more real.
I applaud Ana for taking the Australian film industry somewhere it has never been before and will likely not go again for some time. See this film and make your own mind up.
The film will not please all. It contains full-on nudity and sex scenes, but in the end I felt that they were all appropriate and relevant to the story. In addition, if you are after a well-rounded thriller with a clear beginning, middle and end, you will probably be disappointed.
What this film is, though, is a stunning portrait of a man who is broken down and humiliated, whose life is thrown into disarray for the pleasure of others. Ana has created a stark, honest film, and Tom Long brings an incredibly withheld brevity and aura to the role. His emotions are so internalized and conflicting that the finale to the film seems all the more real.
I applaud Ana for taking the Australian film industry somewhere it has never been before and will likely not go again for some time. See this film and make your own mind up.
- gamblor567
- Jul 28, 2006
- Permalink
Worst Australian movie for a long while
- pentultima
- Jul 5, 2008
- Permalink
Pretensions, corny flick. And bad porn
This looks like one of these Australian movies done by "talented" students and funded by the government. It is chock full of smart shots of colors and shapes and verbal excursions into Freudian psychology to be appreciated by art students and teachers alike, but in general it is perceived a stupid mockery of good cinema, good storytelling and generally good taste. This what happens I guess when art students become so obsessively indulgent. "Pink Flamingoes" is miles ahead one the same subjects. Some porn movies from 70s are far more watchable and inspiring. Book of Revelation is not entirely without merits, but as an overall experience it is well below average B-grade.