Criminal Lovers follows the story
of just that, a pair of lovers who commit an awful murder. At first the murder
seems to be a possible heat of the moment inspired act. As the film progresses,
the two try to get rid of the body making awful mistakes along the way and are
are captured by a hermit who takes residence in the woods.
At this point the film takes up two
storylines; the current and the past. The past storyline reveals a motive for
the couple. Various hints and acting choices have already lead us to believe
that something else maybe going on it between the lines, showing us extreme manipulations
to fulfill bizarre desires. The film is a Hansel and Gretel inspired fable with
reversed gender roles and strong sexual overtones. There is some cannibalism in
the film, but it does seem to be there to make the comparison to the fairy tale
more concrete and comes out rather over the top and unneeded. The hermit and
young boy develop a Stockholm relationship wherein the hermit seduces the boy,
shedding light on the boys own sexual desires.
The execution of camera work within
Criminal Lovers creates vivid moments of sexual intimacy; the scenes are repelling
yet all the while arousing. This creates a complex chain of emotions and
responses within the audience that borders between peak interest and utter
shame. The violence in the first act is shot in such a way that gives a
visceral reaction. Criminal Lovers is often frustrating when we are given insight
into the mind of the teens. While they have committed very adult crimes, there
are scenes where we realize that no matter how heartless they have seemed, they
are really just kids. This is best shown in a scene that takes place after a
brutal murder and on the way to get rid of the body, the pair hits a rabbit and
take the time to give it a proper burial. The final act of Criminal Lovers is
probably the strangest part of the whole film. A sex scene takes place that is
supposed to resemble Spring, the coming of new a life, and a couple’s first
experience together. This seems to be part sexual fantasy and part Disney film.
While beautifully shot, bringing in the wild life that have been a somewhat
prevalent theme, it all comes across as out of place. The scene precedes an odd
choice in cut and tone change immediately afterwords, making me wonder if some
of the final act was all just a fantasy of one of our characters.
Criminal Lovers is a unique film
telling intersecting stories all while discoursing complex issues of teen
sexuality, orientation, and desire at the backdrop of a beloved fairytail. I
would suggest that fans of thrillers that have an open mind seek it out. The film
has plenty of uneasy moments but a lot more going on than one would think in a
retelling of Hansel and Gretel.
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