We then go to Jennifer’s apartment, where she happily
models the dress for her roommate, Jill, saying: “Nina gave it to me just
for being super cool. Plus, it didn’t fit any of the models.” Jennifer (Mary
Loveless) is sexy, but comes across as superficial. And Jill (Bethany Orr)
seems withdrawn and awkward. Their opening dialogue is presented mainly in
close-ups, and from the side the two women are so close they could kiss. They
both have straight reddish hair, light skin, and the similarities and closeness
are very deliberate.
Early on, you’ll wonder how these two became friends and
roommates. Jennifer says that Jill has been living there for nine months
without working, without paying rent. And she tells her she has to get out
there and get a job. But Jill doesn’t leave the apartment. And interestingly,
neither do we. The film uses lots of close-ups to give us a claustrophobic
feel, and we spend more time with Jill, staying with her perspective. But all questions
about their friendship and relationship are answered (and hints are there all
along, like when Jill makes reference to the film Last Year At Marienbad
during the early party scene).
The drug of choice for these women is food. And even the
models at the party at Jill’s apartment discuss food, and indulge themselves to
a point. And there is a shot of Jill alone in her room eating food, then
spitting some of it out in the trash next to her, clearly loving the taste but
worried about her weight. The scene is allowed to go on for a while, and gets
more intense as she begins slapping herself in the head. This girl is not okay.
And we learn it may not be entirely her fault; when we’re introduced to her
mother (through a phone conversation over her laptop), Jill seems almost fine
by comparison.
And when Jill takes a bigger step into the Weird, at
first you feel she’s even justified. Jennifer has promised to talk things out,
but has continued to flake on her and proceed with her own self-destructive
behavior. So Jill chains her to the wall. Jennifer tells her, “Don’t go any
farther.” Jill simply smiles in response. This is such a great moment. And
later when Jennifer is screaming, Jill whispers to her, “Just remember,
everyone can hear you and, by the way, no one cares.”
Everyone is troubled in this film. Even Rob, the guy that
likes Jill, seems at times awkward and unsure of himself. At one point he says
he’s going back to the real world, something we the audience are never allowed
to do (though we are teased with exterior establishing shots of Los Angeles).
The film creates a tight and eerie atmosphere, and you feel that at any moment
things could go horribly wrong. Even shots of food are made creepy. And there
are plenty of shots of food, as the film shows the ecstasy of food as well as
the repulsiveness of it. (I wouldn’t recommend trying to eat while watching
this DVD.)
The film’s two leads (Bethany Orr and Mary Loveless)
really go for it, and the film’s success relies a good deal on their
performances. There is also really interesting use of sound throughout the
film. And I love that this psychological horror film is about conflicting
feelings about one’s self, and that it depicts a world in which people have
trouble communicating, and most attempts at communication are done through
food. I started watching this movie again, and I am enjoying it even more the
second time through. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me is the weird
fantasy sequence involving a sort of reality television program, which went on
much too long.
Excess Flesh was directed by Patrick Kennelly, and
is scheduled to be released on DVD and VOD on March 8, 2016 through Midnight
Releasing. The DVD includes a music video for “I Don’t Race,” as well as two
trailers for the film.
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