Open Wound

Director - Jurgen Weber (Storm of Love, Die Butler)
Starring - Leila Lowfire (The Key, Dogs of Berlin), Jerry Kwarteng (The Cut, League of Superheroes), and Erik Hansen (Weather House, The Countess)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Crime/Drama/Horror
Tagline - "Time is up"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I wanted some indie horror fun so the last few days I've set my sights on several Wild Eye releases that I've needed to review.  Yesterday I reviewed the 2017 bigfoot film Bigfoot Blood Trap.  The story had some things I really enjoyed but the execution left so much on the table.  The next film I wanted to toss in was another Raw and Extreme release from Wild Eye.  This time it was the 2018 film Open Wound that was originally released under the title Time is Up.  I honestly didn't know what to expect when I tossed this gem in but I absolutely loved it when it was all said and done.  Thank you Wild Eye for sending this one my way!
     The film follows a young man and woman who are locked in a room and forced to act out different scenarios.  Things run smoothly until between chapters (the film is told through chapters like a book) the young woman is raped by the man.  This, obviously, puts a strain on the situation and the two become increasingly hostile to one another.  Just when you think you have a grasp as to what is going on with the film another man is introduced and a series of twists unfolds before your very eyes.
     The artwork for Open Wound made me think that I was about to dive into a bloody film.  I almost got the torture porn vibe from the artwork but the film was anything but that.  In fact, I don't think I could label Open Wound correctly.  I can safely say that this is not a horror film in a traditional sense no more than Reservoir Dogs is a horror film but it still satisfies.  The acting in this one sets the fucking bar in terms of indie productions.  The entire cast; Leila Lowfire, Jerry Kwarteng, and Erik Hansen were all fucking fantastic.  I just want to know why I'm just now discovering Lowfire.  No only is she extremely talented in front of the camera but she is also stunning.  I may be in love but it's a little too early to tell...  The cast works so well together and they just feed off each other.  The scenes draw you in and you find yourself mesmerized by the characters they brought to life.  The story for this one is going to be difficult to explain.  I was not looking forward to this review because the story had so much going on and I knew it was going to take some time to break it apart.  The first thing worth mentioning is that is feels like a gritty soap opera set in tune to a web series that was then cut together to form a complete feature length film.  The chapters work, in my opinion, and I loved the style in which they were done.  These two aspects combine to make a film that really stands out when compared to other films.  As for the story, I liked it.  The dialogue was a little poetic for my tastes which did make my attention wonder but the characters and interactions did bring me right back.  Finally, the film has some solid practical and make-up effects but if you are looking for a gory flick you are barking up the wrong tree.  The practical effects are bloody and look solid and the make up effects work for the shot.  The contacts were laughable but aside from that the film really looks good.  Overall, Open Wound is an interesting entry in the Wild Eye Raw and Extreme line.  The film does feel out of place but that doesn't mean you should sleep on it.  This is a must see for any indie fan and I highly recommend checking it out.