Poor Jennifer Lynch. I'm glad she's found steady work in television, because her career in film has been rough. First was 'Boxing Helena,' which I found to be a dire mess; though she returned to the medium after a period of fifteen years away, later came 'Hisss' in 2010, and while I recognize the value in how it turned out, Lynch disavowed it and has said that even with her name attached it's not really her movie. And here we are in 2012, with what has to date been the director's last foray into cinema. She has at least freed herself from trying to live up to the legacy of her father, though he still looms large, but how does 'Chained' hold up on its own account? Happily, I think with this Lynch has accomplished what she has previously struggled to - a solid motion picture. I'm earnestly impressed with the writing, the direction, and the acting; of the three of her four directed works I've seen, this is the first time I find myself wishing to commend Lynch for the end result. "Solid" doesn't always mean "enjoyable," however; for all the horror flicks that have ever been made, the preponderance play in a fantastical space that dulls the edge of violence just enough to make it palatable and entertaining. That is not the case here, for Lynch gives us a horror-drama that very specifically explores the rituals, lifestyle, and psychology of a serial killer, and which furthermore examines the child abuse that is a common factor in shaping a person into a killer. In whatever measure this is genuinely interesting and absorbing, there are wide swaths of it which are so disturbing that I had a hard time watching. Of any genre pieces I've ever watched, the only other one that has been so questionable and in some measure repelling has been Pascal Laugier's 'Ghostland'; one way or another, that says something about Lynch and 'Chained.'
I'm certainly not saying the sum total is so impeccable as to become a must-see, and I won't begrudge anyone who regards it more poorly. Though the filmmaker's vision remains intact at all points, there are some portions that are distinctly stronger or weaker than others as they present. This applies above all to the last act, including and following (but not exclusive to) the introduction of the character of Angie. In fairness, Lynch has accordingly remarked that constraints were placed upon her which meant her movie got shortchanged, so maybe she can't be blamed outright. Nevertheless, as the plot shifts away from the "relationship" between Bob and Rabbit, the writing comes across as less sure-footed, like Lynch had difficulty finding a way to round out the narrative. The strength in this title in terms of its story is in the warped interpretation of parent/child or mentor/pupil as Bob holds Rabbit captive and tries to mold him in his image, continuing a cycle of abuse. In the back end 'Chained' endeavors to complete the plot with meaningful resolution, but as it does it becomes much more common and less noteworthy. Above all, while the tale does remain cohesive through to the somewhat ambiguous end, the beats to come in the last several minutes were obviously the least developed; all of a sudden the viewing experience feels slipshod, as if we're seeing an unfinished work. Far more than not Lynch's screenplay is excellent, with some splendid details, and I rather congratulate her sagacious choice to focus on the complicated characters instead of on the violence in Damian O'Donnell's root story. It's just unfortunate that somewhere between that screenplay, the editing of Daryl K. Davis and Chris A. Peterson, and perhaps the oversight of the producers, the whole is weakened at its most crucial point, with a less than convincing finish. Alas.
Still, the saga is dark and impactful, and in her capacity as director Lynch does her utmost to make every last iota count. That task is surely made easier by a superb cast, and though even those in smaller supporting parts do well, it's definitely the stars who stand out not just for their prominence, but for their individual contributions and their chemistry. Vincent D'Onofrio commands stark, unsettling presence as Bob, settling into the role with deliberate mannerisms and diction that are striking. I feel as if D'Onofrio is routinely underappreciated, and it seems a bit funny that it would be a director with as checkered a legacy as Jennifer Lynch to draw out so fine a performance. Not to be outdone, Eamon Farren handily complements D'Onofrio's Bob as fraught Rabbit, trapped and frightened. Between his turn here and that to follow in 2017 in the third season of 'Twin Peaks,' it's readily apparent what a superb actor Farren is, and I can only hope that he continues to find success in his career. All this is to say nothing of smart production design, gnarly effects including blood and gore, fierce stunts, and otherwise terrific craft down to considerations of lighting. I can only repeat that overall 'Chained' is solid, and I am very pleased that even for its glaring imperfections, I can say that Lynch has done well; that's especially true if, as has been the case so far, this stands as her last cinematic endeavor. Yes, there are emphatic criticisms to level, and it's not exactly a "fun" picture. At its best it's tight and engrossing, though, and at worst, it needed more time to gestate and fully flesh out the narrative. All told this is hardly something one needs to go out of their way to see, and one should be acutely aware of the grisly and vexing nature of the content. If you do have the opportunity to watch, though, and the violence and flaws are no obstacle, then I'm glad to give 'Chained' my firm recommendation.
I'm certainly not saying the sum total is so impeccable as to become a must-see, and I won't begrudge anyone who regards it more poorly. Though the filmmaker's vision remains intact at all points, there are some portions that are distinctly stronger or weaker than others as they present. This applies above all to the last act, including and following (but not exclusive to) the introduction of the character of Angie. In fairness, Lynch has accordingly remarked that constraints were placed upon her which meant her movie got shortchanged, so maybe she can't be blamed outright. Nevertheless, as the plot shifts away from the "relationship" between Bob and Rabbit, the writing comes across as less sure-footed, like Lynch had difficulty finding a way to round out the narrative. The strength in this title in terms of its story is in the warped interpretation of parent/child or mentor/pupil as Bob holds Rabbit captive and tries to mold him in his image, continuing a cycle of abuse. In the back end 'Chained' endeavors to complete the plot with meaningful resolution, but as it does it becomes much more common and less noteworthy. Above all, while the tale does remain cohesive through to the somewhat ambiguous end, the beats to come in the last several minutes were obviously the least developed; all of a sudden the viewing experience feels slipshod, as if we're seeing an unfinished work. Far more than not Lynch's screenplay is excellent, with some splendid details, and I rather congratulate her sagacious choice to focus on the complicated characters instead of on the violence in Damian O'Donnell's root story. It's just unfortunate that somewhere between that screenplay, the editing of Daryl K. Davis and Chris A. Peterson, and perhaps the oversight of the producers, the whole is weakened at its most crucial point, with a less than convincing finish. Alas.
Still, the saga is dark and impactful, and in her capacity as director Lynch does her utmost to make every last iota count. That task is surely made easier by a superb cast, and though even those in smaller supporting parts do well, it's definitely the stars who stand out not just for their prominence, but for their individual contributions and their chemistry. Vincent D'Onofrio commands stark, unsettling presence as Bob, settling into the role with deliberate mannerisms and diction that are striking. I feel as if D'Onofrio is routinely underappreciated, and it seems a bit funny that it would be a director with as checkered a legacy as Jennifer Lynch to draw out so fine a performance. Not to be outdone, Eamon Farren handily complements D'Onofrio's Bob as fraught Rabbit, trapped and frightened. Between his turn here and that to follow in 2017 in the third season of 'Twin Peaks,' it's readily apparent what a superb actor Farren is, and I can only hope that he continues to find success in his career. All this is to say nothing of smart production design, gnarly effects including blood and gore, fierce stunts, and otherwise terrific craft down to considerations of lighting. I can only repeat that overall 'Chained' is solid, and I am very pleased that even for its glaring imperfections, I can say that Lynch has done well; that's especially true if, as has been the case so far, this stands as her last cinematic endeavor. Yes, there are emphatic criticisms to level, and it's not exactly a "fun" picture. At its best it's tight and engrossing, though, and at worst, it needed more time to gestate and fully flesh out the narrative. All told this is hardly something one needs to go out of their way to see, and one should be acutely aware of the grisly and vexing nature of the content. If you do have the opportunity to watch, though, and the violence and flaws are no obstacle, then I'm glad to give 'Chained' my firm recommendation.