House of Flesh Mannequins (2009)


REVIEWER RATING: 
8/10

DIRECTOR:

CAST:


Those who know me and my film reviews, know I am not a fan of arthouse horror. After watching House of Flesh Mannequins, my opinion hasn’t changed. BUT…I am not blind to the fact that some artsy disturbing cinema has become an established subsidiary within the genre. So let’s continue…

Sebastian is an introverted, pained man with many inner demons aching to surface.  He considers himself an artist: film, photography and the hidden talent of lurking after his beautiful neighbor, Sara. Unbeknownst to Sebastian, he has in fact caught the eye of young Sara who is almost instantly introduced into the madness that sets him apart from normalcy.

Sara is intrigued by what she sees, but more so in Sebastian’s childhood and current fetishes that help him cope with his dismal life. The repercussions are not only insane, but tragic and without giving up any spoilers, just remember to watch until the end credits roll.

Cristopharo once again provides his fanbase with a nightmarish dive into a broken man who was clearly abused and unable to grasp his need for the psychosexual impulses that have developed as a result from the mistreatment by his father. Arcangeli (Sebastian) owns every frame of his work, as he leads us down a cruel path of blood soaked visions and depraved imagery which he is unable to escape. Violette’s (Sara) appearance offers wonderful hope and revelation to his miserable existence, until her own torments emerge and mesh into a perfect storm with her new love interest.

The unimaginable couple seems rather inconclusive as to what draws them to each other until each of their personal histories unfold and grant them an unsettling solace.

All taboo subject matter (and there are many!) in House of Flesh Mannequins is handled with care, just peaking on the point of recklessness. Well done! This is an impressive piece of work that even in its artsy culture contained my interest from beginning to end.

OVERALL: 
House of Flesh Mannequins is such an interesting concept into the cerebral mechanisms that control us from childhood upbringings gone wrong. Unleashing the control obviously leads to horrific consequences, however what happens when they continue to fester without freeing them?


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