A Measure of the Sin (2013)

A Measure of the Sin (2013)
directed by:  Jeff Wedding
starring:  Katie Groshong, Starina Johnson, Stephen Jackson, Dale Rainy, Allyce Wix
format:  NTSC:  Region 1

(out of 5)

The Movie:  Arthouse.  Horror.  Dark Surreal Erotica.  An atmosphere of psychotic control and sinister mental abuse.  The Man...played by Stephen Jackson has several slaves in his home.  Women and their babies unknown to the outside world and the outside world unknown to them.  Keeping them under his control with their ignorance.  One named Meredith played by the talented Katie Groshong fights with her psyche after her mother dies and decides to chance escape  First she must face the fear of what's beyond.  This film is thought provoking on so many levels.  Telling the sad story of these women through the narration of Meredith who not only fears The Man but also a mysterious bear that attacks her at night in her bedroom.  This movie reminded me a lot of Jean Rollin's early movies...one of my all time favorite directors.  I definitely consider this a horror film.  Horror is about perspective...here you go. 

The Acting:  Perfect.  Katie Groshong nails it with her expressions, mannerisms, and sheer body movement alone.  Stephen Jackson came across as the rough mind-controlling brute he needed to be.  Every member of this cast did their job I was never once brought out of the film because of anything not on point acting wise.  Something very needed in a film like this one. 

The Gore:  None.  Little blood.  Not necessary here.  While I am a gorehound and love nothing better than throwing a good amount of blood and guts around it is not and should not be necessary for every film. 

The Script:  Great dialogue in this film.  The narration was superb.  Jeff Wedding deserves every bit of respect he's received on this film.  The Man literally breaks the spirits of these women and uses their children against them.  "You don't eat you don't live, you don't eat the baby doesn't live."  Katie Groshong's narration as Meredith throws out a mixture of desperation, sorrow, and chaos.  "Survival has become my mantra." 

The Rating:  Yeah 5 Bloody Hand Prints.  The movie stuck with me for days.  Nothing more to be said there.  When a film takes days to get out of your head it's done it's job.  A film like this is not so easy to forget.